How to Dispose of Old but still Working Mobile Phones

The mobile phone industry is probably one of the most prolific industries on the planet today. You will be amazed at how many new models are released each quarter and how many more units are produced within a given month not only of the new models but also of the not-so-new models that are still doing pretty well in the market.

If you are the type of person who always does not want to be left behind, most likely you would be purchasing new models of mobile phones as soon as they hit the market even though you still have an old but still working mobile phone. And before you know it, you have a bunch of used mobile phones piling up somewhere inside your room (inside your drawer, perhaps).

So, what do you do with your old phone or phones? Throwing them away is definitely not an option because not only would you be harming the environment by including your phone in your trash, you would also be wasting an item that might still prove useful to others, if not anymore to you.

Here are some ways of disposing of your old phones:

1. Sell your old phones. If they are still in good working condition, chances are some people might still be interested in buying them. It does not matter whether they were released last month or last year. What is important is that they are still working. These days, people are willing to get bargains. Offer your phones at a very low and reasonable price. Post an ad on your blog or on your website. Inform your officemates and friends that you want to get rid of your old phones and that you are selling them at a very low price. They might know someone who wants to buy a phone at a tight budget or one of them might actually be willing to buy a second-hand phone. You can do all sorts of advertising. Remember to always inform them that you are selling them because you have a new one and you won't be using them anymore. Most importantly, inform them that they are still in good condition if they are (be honest though if your phone has a defect, no matter how slight it is). Selling your old phones is good because you will be able to get a return of the fraction of the amount of money you paid for those phones.

2. Give them away. If you are not the sort of person who is into selling second-hand stuff, then just give your phones away. Give it to a friend or a relative who is planning to buy a secondary phone. If you have a younger brother or sister who is yet to have his or her first phone, then give your old phone as a gift. This is, in fact, a very thoughtful gesture.

3. Contact the phone manufacturer. If options 1 and 2 above are not for you, just do this: contact the manufacturer of the old phones you want to get rid of. Some manufacturers are willing to take in old phones for recycling. A number of manufacturers now are taking the lead in protecting the environment by recycling their old products. Find out how you can send your old phones back to the manufacturers by contacting them or by visiting their website. You might actually even receive incentives from them for doing so.

4. Contact charitable institutions who are conducting income-generating projects to support their cause. There are several charitable institutions who put up bazaars once in a while where members and supporters sell second-hand goods and where the proceeds are used to fund a special project. Contact them and donate your old phones so that they can sell them.

The ways mentioned above are not only practical but they are also green in the sense that your old phones are not likely to end up in the trash adding to the tons and tons of garbage in the world today.