Plenty of consumers get rid of their cell phones each time they renew or change their cell phone contract, taking advantage of the latest technologies found in new phones. Planned obsolescence is nothing new, but when it comes to cell phones it seems as if discarding these phones every year or two is commonplace.
Let’s take a look at some things you may want to do first before disposing your cell phone:
Remove the SIM card — Every cell phone includes a subscriber identity module, in effect the “brains” of your cell phone. Important data is stored on these chips including phone numbers, web searches and photos. You may be able to transfer that information to a new phone, but you certainly don’t want this information to be discovered by anyone else.
Recycle your phone — You don’t want to throw your old cell phone in the garbage even if it no longer works or is broken. Cell phones contain batteries which can harm the environment. Service providers, phone manufacturers and some nonprofit groups welcome old phones.
Donate your phone — Your old phone could be useful for a nonprofit organization needing to supply phones to the poor. Even if your phone no longer works, some organizations except phones which they then sell for a few dollars a third-party. A few dollars to you may not seem like much, but to a nonprofit dealing in hundreds of phones daily, that amount can certainly help.
Sell your phone — Even if your phone is a few years old, it may still be worth something to someone especially if it includes many of the bells and whistles people want. Check out eBay, search online classifieds and enter “sell my cell phone” in Google to see what results are turned up.
When getting rid of your phone, consider donating related carrying cases, ear plugs and other peripheral equipment at the same time. You may not need it; why not pass it on?
Adv. — Are you heading off to college next fall? If so, check out OfftoCollege.com for helpful planning calendars and college scholarship information.
Photo Credit: Jakub Jankiewicz
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