Recycle Your Cell Phone For all those excited to get a new iPhone with its numerous applications and cool games, what are you going to do with your old cell phone?

You can help the environment and recycle your phone, PDA, charger, and batteries. Recycling cell phones helps to save energy and keep reusable materials out of landfills. Cell phones are made of plastic, copper, and precious metals, which require energy to extract and manufacture. If you decide to recycle your cell phone be sure to terminate the service, delete any contacts or stored information, and take out the SIM card.

If your old cell phone is still working, you might also want to consider donating it to charity. Many programs will accept working cell phones that they donate to people in need, such as survivors of domestic violence, because old cell phones can still dial 911 even after the service is disconnected.

To find local agencies where you can donate your cell phone, visit ncadv.org. Cell phones are only a small percentage of the total computer equipment organizations replace each year.

What happens to all of those old laptops, notebooks, servers, and monitors? What is the environmental impact of throwing a computer system into a landfill?

What can companies do to recycle their computer equipment? What can the government do to help motivate companies and individuals to recycle?