| These days recycling is big, more people are taking up | | | | specialise in the recycling, reuse, and reconditioning of |
| the idea every day either by choice or because some | | | | old handsets. They buy almost any phone from |
| local councils are threatening to fine households who | | | | anyone. Many of the phones are re-conditioned and |
| don't put glass, metal or paper in the correct recycling | | | | then sold on to developing countries. Phones that are |
| bin. Recycling household rubbish has the main benefit | | | | beyond repair are broken down into their components |
| of reducing the growth of landfill levels because they | | | | and recycled accordingly. Every mobile phone handset |
| are filling up too quickly. The other benefit is saving | | | | has a small amount of gold inside amongst other |
| energy. Recycling old mobile handsets has both of | | | | valuable minerals which can be recovered and |
| these benefits but also can make the recycler that little | | | | recycled. The less valuable components are then |
| bit richer. | | | | either disposed of properly or recycled to be reused in |
| Most mobile phone users will renew their old handset | | | | anything from coats to building materials. |
| every year to two years on average. This means that | | | | The process of recycling has been made very simple |
| millions of handsets are either sold on, given away, | | | | and has been broken down into these few steps. |
| stored indefinitely or thrown in the bin every year. To | | | | Firstly choose one of the many recycling companies |
| break this down further, it is definitely a good thing that | | | | out there such as Envirofone, Mobile Phone Xchange, |
| old handsets are sold on or given away, this is the | | | | Earth Mobile, Mopay, Fonebank, Love2Recycle or |
| same as, if not better than recycling as maximum use | | | | Money4urMobile. Next type in the model number of the |
| is being gotten out of each mobile. Handsets that are | | | | handset to be recycled. This will show a quote of how |
| stored indefinitely often end up this way as users who | | | | much they will pay for a working model. Some will |
| have just received their new upgrade from the phone | | | | display a quote for a non-working model while others |
| company will keep their old phone as either a backup | | | | will say something like 'up to 90%' of the working price. |
| or because it has sentimental value. These old | | | | Next choose a payment method, this is usually by |
| handsets are not worth keeping for long as they | | | | cheque but some companies can pay by BACS bank |
| slowly begin to lose their value that recycling | | | | transfer, Argos or Debenhams vouchers, PayPal, or |
| companies will pay for them. Handsets that are thrown | | | | donation to charity. Once selected and address forms |
| away are the worst possible outcome for the end of | | | | have been filled in they will provide a freepost address |
| a life of a handset. They contain lots of valuable | | | | to put upon an envelope in which to send off the old |
| components that by recycling saves resources. | | | | phone. Next post it then once they have received and |
| To sell old mobile phone handsets to recycling | | | | checked the phone they will send the payment usually |
| companies is the easiest way to get rid while | | | | within 2 to 7 days. |
| reclaiming some of the value. These companies | | | | |