Find a new home for your cell phone. Generally, if your phone is in working condition, someone else may be able to use it. However, according to INFORM, a non-profit environmental research group, the majority of donated phones end up being sold to developing countries for reuse. Unfortunately, those countries may have little or no infrastructure to dispose of the old phones responsibly at the end of their life. (To learn why it's important to keep cell phones out of landfills, visit our section on What you need to know.) To find out how a particular collection program works, and what will happen to your phone, ask the program's representative or check their Web site.
Note: Before you pack up your cell phone, be sure to contact the organization or check its Web site to find out if it's currently accepting the type and condition of phone you plan to give away.
Options for donating:
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• Local community programs. Some municipalities offer reuse programs that accept old cell phones. To find out whether a program exists in your community, contact your local waste management agency, or consult the searchable map on the Electronic Industry Alliance Web site.
• Service provider and retailer programs. Most service providers and some retailers, including Best Buy and Staples, have in-store collection programs that typically accept all makes and models of phones, as well as accessories.
• Thrift stores and charities. For some options, search Earth911, which offers a Zip-code searchable database of local and national organizations that accept donated cell phones. The EPA's Plug into E-cycling program also lists donation options.
• Giveaway sites. You can list your phone on sites such as freecycle, where it will be posted online in your community and possibly picked up for free by neighbor who wants it.
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Options for selling:
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• If the cell phone isn't too old and is still in working condition (or repair is an option), another user might buy it through an ad in your local paper or an online service like Craig's list or an auction site like eBay.
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Don't donate or sell your identity! Before you donate your cell phone, make sure that you rid it of all traces of personally identifiable information that could be used for identity theft. Visit our Protect your identity section to learn how.
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