where to donate old phones

by Prof. Sadie Hettinger III 5 min read

How can I donate my old mobile phone? Regardless of the condition of your old mobile phone, it may be possible to donate it to various charity organisations through their shop collection points, donate it via a small electronics charity bin or offer it directly to a specialist phone recycling company for money.

Where to Donate Your Old Cell Phone
  • 911 Cell Phone Bank. ...
  • American Cell Phone Drive. ...
  • Cell4Pets. ...
  • Cell Phones for Soldiers. ...
  • eBay for Charity. ...
  • Goodwill. ...
  • Medic Mobile. ...
  • National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Feb 5, 2021

Full Answer

Should I recycle or donate my old cell phone?

Compare phone disposal options. Veterans Advantage Through its Recycle & Reward program, Veterans Advantage collects and recycles used phones, then uses the proceeds to provide additional benefits and discounts for active military members, veterans, and their families. Recycling for Charities Like some other organizations on this list, Recycling for Charities will …

Where can I recycle old mobile phones?

What Should I Do With Old Cell Phones? Despite this environmental problem, there is one way to resolve it: Clear out your drawers. It is possible to trade in your old smartphone with your mobile carrier for a new phone, sell it online, donate it to a charitable organization, or recycle your old devices at other locations.

How do you dispose of old phones?

Newer, gently-used mobile devices, including smartphones, are preferred; however, proceeds are generated from the recycling of broken and outdated mobile phones as well. Chargers and accessories are welcome but are not necessary to donate. If you have a charger you would like to donate, please keep the original phone and charger together.

Where can one sell their old phones?

But we can’t do it without your continued support. So thanks, as always, for your donation of used phones and tablets to Secure the Call. To host a drive – call us at 301 891-2900 or email us at [email protected]. It really is simple to get involved.

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Why Donate Or Recycle Electronics

Electronic products are made from valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and...

Before Donating Or Recycling Your Used Electronics

1. For your computer or laptop, consider upgrading the hardware or software instead of buying a brand new product. 2. Delete all personal informati...

Where to Donate Or Recycle

Manufacturers and retailers offer several options to donate or recycle electronics. Search below to find programs developed by Sustainable Material...

What is American Cell Phone Drive?

The American Cell Phone Drive collects devices to distribute in communities across the nation. American Cell Phone Drive works with more than 4,000 organizations, the group says on its website.

What is cellular recycler?

Cellular Recycler, a nonprofit organization that specializes in electronic trade-ins, makes it easy to send in your old phone. It also offers a Collection Kit for organizations interested in holding trade-in fundraisers.

Does Pickup Please pick up your phone?

Available in 13 states, Pickup Please will pick up your phone for free and donate the proceeds to Vietnam Veterans of America. All you have to do is schedule a pickup online and a driver will arrive and leave you a tax deduction receipt.

How much of cell phones are recycled?

Even so, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency currently estimates only about 20 percent of all cell phones are recycled [source: LeBlanc ]. Most cell phone providers have drop-off bins or mail-in programs to make recycling your old phone easy, but there are lots of ways you can recycle your phone and give to others. ...

When was the first smartphone invented?

The very first smartphone was launched by IBM in 1992 and was released to the general public for purchase in 1994. This device wasn't entirely compact and was soon replaced by more innovative versions.

What are cell phones made of?

They're are made with precious metals, copper and plastics, all of which can be recycled to make new products. Even so, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency currently estimates only about 20 percent ...

What does NCADV do?

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) collects cell phones to help fund their programs. They accept phones and partner with Cellular Recycler, which sells refurbished electronics. Some of the funds from those sales then goes back to NCADV. They'll also accept other types of old electronics, too, including old laptops, digital cameras, video game consoles, and MP3 players, along with all of the related charging cords and accessories.

What is second wave recycling?

Second Wave Recycling is an organization that accepts older phones, iPods and MP3 players, tablets and e-readers, handheld gaming devices, smart watches and even charging cables. Newer and functional devices are refurbished and then sold for cash. Older devices are recycled. The money from those processes is donated to fund a designated charity. Second Wave is actively funding the Wounded Warrior Project, which offers support services for military personnel who've been hurt while serving the U.S., but the organization has supported other causes, too, including charities that benefit medical patients, domestic abuse survivors, animals rescues, and many others. You can choose which charity to support.

What is Medic Mobile?

Medic Mobile recycles and refurbishes old phones and tablets and uses the funds to buy mobile devices that medical workers use on the job in 26 countries, mostly in Asia, Latin America, or Africa. These devices register pregnancies, track disease outbreaks, and communicate about medical emergencies. Advertisement.

What is the second wave?

Second Wave is actively funding the Wounded Warrior Project, which offers support services for military personnel who've been hurt while serving the U.S. , but the organization has supported other causes, too, including charities that benefit medical patients, domestic abuse survivors, animals rescues, and many others.

What is cell phone for soldiers?

Cell Phones for Soldiers is a nonprofit that works to provide cost-free communication services to active-duty military and veterans. New or gently used mobile phones are accepted and each device valued at $5 turns into 2.5 hours of free talk time for the soldiers.

What is Hope Phones?

4. Hope Phones. The Hope Phones campaign was started in 2009 by Medic Mobile, which works to advance health care in 16 countries by using mobile technology. Individuals, nonprofits, groups, or businesses can host a Hope Phones campaign to donate old phones.

Where is Eco Cell located?

Eco-Cell. Eco-Cell is a Louisville, Kentucky- based e-waste recycling company. It partners with nonprofits and organizations such as the Jane Goodall Institute. Bins are located in coffee shops and other businesses around the country, where the collected phones are shipped to Eco-Cell in Louisville.

What is call2recyle?

Call2Recyle is a no-cost recycling program for batteries and cell phones in the US and Canada. It has collection boxes that can be placed anywhere, which have shipping permits so mailing them is easy. They also have bulk shipping if there is a large amount of recyclables.

Does AT&T have a trade in program?

AT&T has a trade-in program for unwanted phones and accessories regardless of manufacturer or carrier. The owner gets a "promotion card" which can then be used to take money off a new phone or other purchase. Make sure you erase all your information before you turn them in, though.

prepaid

CPFS will pay for your shipping if you plan to ship 10 phones or more.

Self-Paid

Thank you for taking the extra step to cover shipping costs for your donated devices! Not only is your device donation tax deductible but so are the shipping costs.

Find a Barrel

We have collection barrels set up all across the USA. To find a barrel that’s convenient to you, please click below.#N#Barrel Locator →

Ship a Phone

Send us your phones and tablets today by using our self-paid or prepaid US Post Office shipping labels.#N#Send Us Your Phones →

Host a Barrel

Know a good location for one of our barrels? Let’s talk. Setting it all up is easy and always free for your organization.#N#Learn More →

Host a drive

30-Day drives are a great way to let everyone at your organization help out our program. Click here to get more info.#N#Learn More →

Become a Partner

Are you a part of an organization that has a need for free 911 phones? Providing free emergency phones is what we do.#N#Learn More →

Volunteer

VolunteeVolunteers are the heartbeat of our operation. There are so many ways you can volunteer with Secure the Call.#N#Learn More →

Why is electronics donation important?

Electronics donation and recycling is a great way to help conserve resources and natural materials. It is important to make sure you are donating and/or recycling electronics safely and correctly.

How to recycle electronics?

Before Donating or Recycling Your Used Electronics 1 For your computer or laptop, consider upgrading the hardware or software instead of buying a brand new product. 2 Delete all personal information from your electronics. 3 Remove any batteries from your electronics, they may need to be recycled separately. 4 Check for recycling facilities Exit in your state or community.

What are electronic products made of?

Electronic products are made from valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Donating or recycling consumer electronics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin ...

What is Secondwave?

An easy, secure and free program to recycle new, used and broken smartphones, tablets and cell phones to support charities.

Why us?

SecondWave’s cell phone recycling program is an effective, yet easy way to support those in need.

How YOU Can Help

Donate your old iPhones, Smartphones, iPads, tablets, handheld game consoles & basic phones – working or not!

Who did we help today?

Since 2011, SecondWave Recycling has grown from that single idea to a company that has worked hard everyday to make a difference. Dedicated to helping non-profits fundraise, we define our success the same way our partners do:

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Sales

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Retailers sell more than 1.5 billion new smartphones each year. And in the United States, at least, smartphone users buy a new device every two years or so. The phones they abandon are often still perfectly functional (if perhaps a bit sluggish), and there's the question of what one should do with those older devices [sources…
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Risks

  • Whatever you do, don't simply chuck your old phone in the garbage. They contain lithium-ion batteries that constitute a real fire hazard, and they can even explode in some circumstances. By one estimate, 65 percent of waste facility fires (in California, at least) were ignited due to discarded cell phone batteries [source: Siegal].
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Composition

  • In addition to the possibility of fire, cell phones electronics are composed of a veritable treasure trove of valuable components. They're are made with precious metals, copper and plastics, all of which can be recycled to make new products. Even so, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency currently estimates only about 20 percent of all cell phones are recycled [source: LeBlanc].
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Operations

  • The organization collects old phones which it sells to a recycler or an electronic refurbisher, depending on the condition. It uses the proceeds to buy long distance calling cards, which are distributed to men and women who are serving in the military. Each phone donated buys about one hour of talk time for soldiers.
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Equipment

  • The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) collects cell phones to help fund their programs. They accept phones and partner with Cellular Recycler, which sells refurbished electronics. Some of the funds from those sales then goes back to NCADV. They'll also accept other types of old electronics, too, including old laptops, digital cameras, video game consoles, a…
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Technology

  • Second Wave Recycling is an organization that accepts older phones, iPods and MP3 players, tablets and e-readers, handheld gaming devices, smart watches and even charging cables. Newer and functional devices are refurbished and then sold for cash. Older devices are recycled. The money from those processes is donated to fund a designated charity. As of April 2019, Second …
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Purpose

  • Did you know that all cell phones sold in the U.S., regardless of their carrier subscription status, must be able to dial 911 in case of an emergency? So that half-decade-old phone tucked away in storage will still call for an ambulance or police assistance, provided the battery is chargeable. Secure the Call is an organization that accepts used cell phones and then repurposes them as e…
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