Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What makes the Recycle
My Cell Phone campaign different than other cell phone
collections?
This campaign is a grassroots effort to build awareness
about recycling and the environmental impacts of cell
phone waste. Through our various campaigns, EARTHWORKS
seeks to educate consumers about the impacts of their
purchases, beginning with the extraction of raw materials
through the end of product life. By inviting others
to participate and benefit from the campaign we hope
to achieve a critical mass and significantly increase
the rate of cell phone recycling -- to date, the industry
and other collection campaigns combined have recycled
over 10% of retired cell phones. We can and should
do better!
The Recycle My Cell Phone campaign
accepts all makes and models of cell phones in any condition with or without their batteries. There
are other programs and companies who claim to be recycling
to protect the environment, but only want specific makes
and models of phones. However, they have no credentials on how
they dispose of the toxic materials they process.
All cell phones collected by the Recycle My
Cell Phone campaign will be recycled in a responsible
manner. Toxic waste will not be exported to developing
countries. Hazardous materials will be processed
and disposed of according to the strictest environmental
standards. For more info read our environmental
principles.
Q: What are the environmental
and public health impacts of cell phone waste?
In the US alone, more than 500 million used cell phones sit on shelves or in our landfills. Another 130 million will be added this year. This problem is growing at a rate of more than 2 million phones per week!
Cell phones contain toxic materials such as lead, mercury,
beryllium, arsenic, cadmium, and antimony. If incinerated
these substances can pollute the air; in landfills they
can leach into groundwater.
Many of the materials found in cell phones are also
on the EPA's list of persistent bioaccumulative toxins
(PBTs). Because PBTs accumulate in fatty tissue of humans
and animals, the toxins are gradually concentrated,
putting those at the top of the food chain at the greatest
risk, especially children. According to the EPA, "PBTs
are associated with a range of adverse human health
effects, including damage to the nervous system, reproductive
and developmental problems, cancer and genetic impacts."
Q: What happens to my
phone?
EARTHWORKS teams up with certified recyclers that are recognized by the third party certification system, e-Steward.
Q: Can I just mail in my
used cell phone?
Unfortunately at this time you cannot mail your cell phones directly to our recycler. Instead you can mail them to our office.
Recycle My Cell Phone
1612 K St. NW
Suite 808
Washington, D.C. 20006
Q: What kinds of phones can be recycled?
We accept all makes and models of cell phones whether they work or not!
Q:Can I recycle my charger?
No. Unfortunately at this time we do not recycle chargers. However, all Staples retail locations will accept chargers at no cost and meet our high environmental standards of recycling them.
Please only include cellphone and their batteries in your shipment.
Q: Are there privacy concerns or risks that I
may get phone bills from the next person who uses my
old phone?
As long as your phone has been deactivated from service, there are no security or privacy concerns. When the phones are refurbished, they are completely cleared and reprogrammed, erasing any trace of your ownership. This includes erasing the phone book, so your privacy is protected and you have no chance of getting a bill from the next owner.
Q: Can I organize my own cell phone collection?
Yes. Help us reach our goal of recycling one million
cell phones by signing up your business or organization to become
a partner -- it's easy, free, and we will provide
a kit that includes everything you need!
In addition to raising awareness and promoting recycling, you will be supporting our work!
Q: Are cell phone donations tax deductible?
Yes, you can deduct the value of the phone! Typically smartphones are the only phones with value higher than $1, but smartphones can be worth up to $150!
We
cannot offer you tax advice and suggest you discuss
the matter with your accountant or tax advisor.
If you would like to recieve a receipt please include a valid e-mail address in your cell phone package. The IRS prohibits us from specifying exact values for in kind donations; however, we will give an estimate for each phone recieved.
Q: I don't live in the United States but I'd like to recycle my phone or partner with the campaign - how can I do this?
Because we respect international agreements that ban the export and trade of hazardous waste, the Recycle My Cell Phone campaign does not accept phones from outside of the United States.
The campaign supports the Basel Convention that limits the of transboundary movement of hazardous waste (and potentially hazardous waste like untested cell phones). We applaud individuals outside the U.S. that want to responsibly recycle their retired cell phones but we urge them to limit the transboundary movement of e-waste by calling for recycling programs in their own country. This can be done by contacting cell phone manufacturers, service providers, policy makers and other environmental organizations to share concerns about the issue. In addition, we urge these individuals to support national and international regulatory efforts on electronics recycling.
More information on the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is here. More information on international cell phone recycling efforts is here.
Q: Does the Recycle My Cell Phone campaign/EARTHWORKS
make money from phones recycled through recyclemycellphone.org?
The Recycle My Cell Phone campaign/EARTHWORKS receives approximately $1 per phone recycled. All funds received are used exclusively to promote cell phone recycling and support EARTHWORKS.
Q: Can I purchase the phones collected by the Recycle My Cell Phone campaign (or the scrap plastic or metal produced by the recycling process)?
Not right now. Stay tuned for special events that may offer opportunities to purchase chargers and accesories.
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