Americans Junk Millions of Used Cellphones

Reader Comments
Back to blog

Quite frankly, I don't have a problem with people throwing away their cell phones. How many cell phones does it take to equal the landfill space of an old water heater or refrigerator? And the batteries used in modern handsets are no larger or more toxic than a typical AA or AAA battery for an I-pod or CD player. Charities and companies that offer to buy them back have hidden fees and base their rates on unrealistic scenarios. In the end you'd be lucky to get 5 bucks. But what no one seems to think about is their personal information. How many calendar events, birthdays, names and their associated numbers does an average person have on their phone these days? This information remains in phones that don't use removable sim cards, and also in many phones that do. When is the last time you checked to see if a charity or buy back company had an accredited memory erasing program, or that it even bothered? You would never give away your personal hard drive without wiping it permanently. You wouldn't throw out bank statements without shredding them. So why would you hand over your personal communication device to a perfect stranger? Use common sense... take a hammer to the screen and keypad sections to render any info irretrievable and toss the mess in the garbage. Any environmental sense of well being you might get from recycling isn't worth the financial jeopardy and lost sleep that accompanies identity theft.

Rodney of GA 6:24PM September 14, 2008

Paul has a good idea. I do the same thing. If I am out of range with one, maybe the other phone will work.

Nita of CA 1:40AM April 09, 2008

As a frugal individual, I make minimal use of my cell phone, and buy one with an inexpensive prepaid plan (about $25 for three months usage). On average, the batteries are good for about two years of recharging. The problem is that it costs $40 to replace a battery, but only $20 to buy a new phone including the new battery. If I donate the phone to a charity for recycling, it will cost them more to replace the battery than the phone is worth.

Paul in Ohio of OK 4:35PM April 08, 2008

If some people were not so picky about having the newest and coolest phone, and keep it for a long time, this would not be such a huge problem. Too many people try to keep up, not just with cellphones, with about everything, I went to a Goodwill store the other day, it is jam packed with clothing that looks almost new!

carol musselman of IL 12:53PM April 08, 2008

kINDA REMINDS YOU OF AUSTIN POWERS AND THE NAZI WOMEN,,,,WELL IT'S SAD BUT TRUE ....nothing is really go green in this country..However if I had a machine that could transform BS inot pure energy ....MY GOD there would be enough BS in Washington DC to power the SUN for 100 years.

Chris of FL 12:27PM April 08, 2008