In today’s world, most people have a cellular phone. With new phones being released on a regular basis, the option to upgrade to the newest and greatest is available to cell phone users everyday. Along with that option to upgrade comes the decision of what to do with you old phone.
Many options are available for your now outdated phone. For instance, you could simply throw it away. This is an option available to you, but it is environmentally irresponsible, as cellular phones, or any electronic device for that matter, contain toxic chemicals. These chemicals could then enter into the environment via landfills where discarded electronics may end up. Luckily, there are many other options that will allow your cell phone to be reused in some capacity.
First off, you could save the phone as a back up to your new phone. As we all know, electronic devices break. Whether, it be through faulty manufacturing or everyday wear and tear, at some point your device may cease to work. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a spare cell phone on hand in the event that this happens? By simply saving your old phone, you can avoid going a lengthy amount of time without service. Also, by saving your old phone you can avoid paying your service provider for insurance coverage on your new phone, as you know you have a working spare phone incase of emergency.
Another alternative is to simply donate the phone. There are many ways you can go about doing this. You can survey people you know to see if anyone is interested in your phone. You can also donate it to a charitable organization that accepts cell phones. These philanthropic ventures range giving phones to battered women to providing them to soldiers returning home from duty. By donating your phone you are not only extending the use of your phone, you may also be giving yourself a tax deductable.
A third alternative has become very popular in the last few years. The e-cycle movement has grown so much that even major retail chain stores have started to place recycling bins in there locations. When cell phones are e-cycled they have their components stripped for reuse. Many places also have contests with prizes as incentives to e-cycle, adding another reason this maybe a worthwhile option for some.
Your last option is to either trade it or sell it. This can be done in a variety of ways. Depending on where you purchase your new phone, you may be able to simple give the retailer your old phone in exchange for a credit towards your new phone. You may also be able to sell it or trade it for something else you may want on internet sites such as Ebay or Craigslist.
So, in conclusion, I have listed for you several different options for you when deciding what to do with your outdated phone. All of these options help keep needless amounts of cell phones from filling landfills with toxic chemicals. Many of these options also give financial incentive to you, whether through upgrade credits, proceeds from selling the phone yourself or tax credit for donations. With these options, you have the ability to gain something from a cell phone you no longer have use for.
