How to Donate a Cell Phone to Charity
Millions of new cell phones are sold every year meaning that millions of old cell phones are discarded into the trash and end up in a landfill somewhere. In fact, according to many estimates, used cell phones account for more than 65,000 tons of refuse every year. Rather than contributing to a serious waste disposal problem, owners of used cell phones should donate them to a charity. There are at least two reasons why a cell phone user should avoid throwing an old cell phone away:
1.
Help preserve the environment. Cell phones are made from plastics that are
not biodegradable. This means that when a cell phone ends up in a landfill it is
there for decades, leaching toxins into the soil. The environmental impact from
the battery inside the phone is worse than from the phone itself because of the
Persistent Bioaccumulative and Toxic Chemicals (PBTs) that are absorbed into the
ground and into the water supply when a cell phone is in a landfill. These PBTs
include chemicals that stay in the environment for a long time such as antimony,
arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper and lead. Even small amounts of these
chemicals cause cancer, reproductive problems, birth defects, and genetic
mutations in human beings and in animals. Since one cell phone is enough to
pollute over 100,000 liters of water, every cell phone that is recycled makes a
difference to our planet and to future generations.
2. Help other people. Schedules are so busy these days that people forget about others that are in need. While a person may feel unable to make a difference in the lives of others, they can by donating a used cell phone to a charitable cause. This is a simple way to make a difference in the world without much effort. The joy of doing a small thing to help someone else is often enough to encourage further charitable service.
Not all cell phones are discarded: some surveys suggest that over 500 million used cell phones are sitting around in American homes, adding toxicity to the household environment. While these hundreds of millions of used cell phones represent danger, they also represent opportunity. Used cell phones are an untapped resource of millions of dollars that are useful in helping good causes.
Types of charitable organizations that accept used cell phones
It’s hard to go more than a few days without seeing an advertisement soliciting used cell phones for a charitable cause. Although they all serve worthy causes, donors can choose from a wide variety of organizations. Some examples of these include churches, public and private schools, organizations for senior citizens, rescue missions, shelters, relief agencies and food banks. These are all organizations that work hard to help those in need, so they are all good choices for a donation.
How a used cell phone donation helps
Although at first a used cell phone seems an odd thing to give away, it is very practical. Organizations collect donated used cell phones and then sell them to companies that recycle them. While some used cell phones are refurbished, the majority of them are processed in a manner that is safe for the environment. The materials salvaged from the used cell phones are resold by the recycler to a wide range of manufacturers.
The money charities receive from used cell phone donations is used to buy clothes, food, housing, medicine and other supplies for those in need. Furthermore, phones that are donated to a 501.c.3 charity organization represent a qualified tax deduction.
Examples of cell phone charities
Listed below are a few samples of charities that accept donations of used cell phones. This is not an endorsement of or recommendation for these charities.
Cell Phones for Soldiers. Donated used phones are recycled by Cell Phones for Soldiers, with the money going to buy needy soldiers overseas so they can make contact with family members back home.
Phones for Life is an organization that refurbishes used cell phones so senior citizens have a way to call for help in case of emergency.
Call to Protect. With domestic violence a growing danger to many partners and spouses,
How to donate a used cell phone
Owners of used cell phones can follow a few steps to make a difference in their world:
1. Delete all personal information from the used cell phone.
2. Make sure that wireless service for the used phone is deactivated.
3. Identify the charity that will receive the donation.
4. If local, drop off the used cell phone. Otherwise, mail the phone to the charity.
5. Request a receipt for tax purposes.
With so many used cell phones around, everyone is urged to recycle. Saving the planet by keeping used cell phones out of landfills is just one part of responsible disposal. Owners of used cell phones should take the additional step of using that old cell phone to make a lasting difference in the lives of others by giving it as a charitable donation.