With Earth Day not long gone, now is the perfect time to remember the simple values of environmental wellness. Whether you need to work on turning things off when you don’t need to use them, or simply just remembering to make sure your crisp packet ends up in the bin when you’re finished with it, there’s always something you can do to make a positive impact on the planet’s wellbeing. A great place to start is with your mobile phone.
The proper disposal of mobile phones is important to the environment, and throwing them into the bin should never be an option. You can sell your phone, donate it or even trade it in and get money off your new one, but if these options run out, you should always recycle your electronics. If your phone is busted and no one will be able to get any use out of it, recycling is a great way to go – but that doesn’t mean you have a long way to go before you reach your local recycling.
These days, a lot of shops and carriers will recycle your phone for you. Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot, exPhone, your carrier’s shop or your manufacturer’s website may be good places to take your phone off your hands. You won’t get much more than a “thank you” going down this route, but you’ll at least be secure in the knowledge that your device will go through the proper channels of disposal or reuse instead of ending up in a landfill somewhere. If you send in your device to Envirophone, you could even get some money out of it.
If you want more than a pat on the head when you get rid of your old devices, selling them will help you do your bit for the planet, and your bank balance! Presumably, if you’re getting rid of your old phone, you’re going to need a new one and so selling your old devices can help you to get the money you need towards it. Many users sell their devices on online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay or Gumtree. However, if you have an Android device, Swappa is your best bet as this site is used exclusively for trading and selling Android phones.