Charity calling: 4 ways to recycle your cell phone for good

How can you turn your old tech into good? 

Studies have found people are keeping their cell phones around 3 years on average. Lots of us have old phones and electronics hanging out in junk drawers or closets.

Recycling your mobile device is not just a better option for disposing of your cell phones. Storing away old phones and electronics or throwing them in the trash can actually be harmful, by leading to more mining of materials and leaching toxic metals into the environment. 

As an added bonus, through some electronics recycling programs, you can share a valuable communications tool with someone else. Or, you might gain a little bit of cash to donate to a cause you care about. 

Many electronics recycling programs let you dispose of your phone safely and even profitably. Here are 4 ways you can dial in to a good cause with your old phone.

Recycle My Cell

Help the environment and support some great causes with Recycle My Cell’s national recycling program for mobile devices. You can drop your old phone off at one of the locations across the country. Or, print out a pre-paid shipping label and mail it in. 

They remind you to remove your SIM card and clear your device of all personal information before recycling (and provide instructions on their website). 

Think Recycle

Think Recycle pays money for old cells and other electronics. They make it easy for individuals to organize fundraisers by collecting phones for recycling. As it turns out, a lot of us probably have old devices and electronics sitting unwanted in drawers. What a great way to contribute to a cause you care about while clearing out some clutter! 

Free Geek

Free Geek, which started in Portland and has expanded across Canada and the US, includes locations in Vancouver and Toronto. The non-profit aims to increase access to technology, offer training and employment opportunities, and reduce the environmental impact of technology. They accept cellphones along with nearly all computers and computer-related hardware.

Charitable Impact

If you’ve got old electronic devices to recycle, you can donate the money you make to any charity of your choice through Charitable Impact. 

Simply create your Charitable Impact account and add the money you earn from selling your unwanted products. You’ll receive a tax receipt instantly. Then, you can take your time to choose a charity to give to. 

With more than 86K registered charities to choose from, you can take your time to make a difference. Rest assured you have already done some good by taking the first step and recycling your phone. 

If you feel inspired to create an impact, then Charitable Impact is here for you. With our free Impact Account, you can support all of your favourite causes from one place. Add funds to your account at any time, take the time and space to plan your impact, and then send gifts from your account to the causes you care about. Sign up for a free account today to get started!