Did you know that up to one hundred million cell phones are replaced each year? As crazy as it sounds some owners aren’t aware that the electronics contain metals and other materials that can be hazardous to the environment and chuck them in their garbage cans, which then go to the landfill. Yikes!!!! FYI, cell phone circuitry and displays contain toxic compounds like cadmium, beryllium, arsenic, copper and lead.

Because manufacturers use so many different types of plastic in electronic equipment it’s the most challenging to recycle. It is also difficult and costly to sort all the different types of plastics used in cell phones. So my suggestion today is to donate your used cell phones!!! I am a drop off point for Cell for Soldiers. If you are not in the Los Angeles area remember that many charities will collect cell phones for fundraising or give them directly to people who need them. So do something easy, drop your phone off at a collection point or send it in to a participating site. Most will even send you a prepaid shipping label to speed along the process.

If you are a local customer of All Green Things, bring me your used cell phones!!!! Cell Phones for Soldiers is a great organization and they expect to collect 50,000 cell phones each month through a network of more than 3,000 collection sites across the country. The phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone – enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad. Let’s show some love for our soldiers and our environment!!

It is unlawful in some states to not recycle your cellular phones and cell phone accessories. There is a growing movement to protect the environment and lawmakers all over the world are taking note.