Trashing your old phone requires a little prepartion and some social responsibility.
Having a cell phone is as common as carrying a wallet, but unlike other items you carry around, new technology offers the temptation of frequent upgrades. When you decide to buy a cell phone, you might decide to keep your old phone as a back up, sell it to make some cash or donate it for someone else to use. But you might also consider getting rid of it all together. There are a few things to consider when disposing of your old cell phone for the safety of your identity and the well-being of the environment.
Instructions
1. Extract and/or delete all information stored to the phone. Cell phone data is often stored on a chip or SIM card, but there is still personal information that is saved doubly or only to your phone memory. Back up all the data you need from your old phone to a memory chip and then clear it from the phone to ensure your identity is protected. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends consulting your phone's owner's manual or the manufacturer website to learn permanently delete stored data like your photos, contacts list, call log, voicemails, emails, text messages, calendar items, and Internet history.
2. Recycle your old phone. Recycling a phone is more than chucking it in a bin like a can or a plastic bottle. Phones and there parts and accessories can be fixed and reused by someone who can't afford to buy a newer model. Information is available on recycle your old cell phone for free through programs sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website provides electronics recycling information based on where you live and what programs are available for recycling through your cell phone manufacturer, service provider, and specialized non-profit organizations. For example, eCycle.org provides residents of California with information they need to properly recycle or donate their used electronics.
3. Trash your old phone responsibly. If you simply want to throw the old phone away, remember to protect the environment and the health of the global community but trashing your phone properly. First, always remove the battery to keep it out a landfill. Because cell phones contain many materials that could also be harmful to the planet and human health, the FTC and EPA recommend contacting your local sanitation agencies to find out what hazardous waste disposal programs they have in place.
Tags: your phone, cell phone, your cell, your cell phone, phone memory