How to Donate Your Cell Phone to Change the World

Cell phone technology advances quickly, and incentives to get a new phone every two years aren’t easy to pass up. It's no surprise that most of us end up with a drawer full of old, but still functional cell phones taking up space. Tossing them in the trash isn’t a good option either, because mercury and other toxic chemicals could leech out of the phones.

You could trade your old cell phone for cash, but how about putting it to better use? There are lots of organizations out there that help you donate your cell phone to a charity that will either refurbish and give the phone to someone in need or sell it and use the money to further the charity’s good works.

Here is how you can change the world--one cell phone at a time.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Old Cell Phones
• Internet Connection

1. Wipe your cell phone of all data. This is important since you may have sensitive information on your phone and you don’t want anyone else snooping around your personal stuff.
   
   Also, pull out your SIM card if your phone has one.

2. Most cell phones have a “master reset” to return the phone to factory-fresh condition. If you don’t have access to a manual, look online for instructions (see Resources below for a link to Cell Phone Data Eraser).

3. Gather all of your cell phone’s accessories into one place if you still have them. Chargers, batteries, cases, manuals, boxes and other accessories may be requested by the donation program.

4. Look online for cell phone donation websites. There are many out there (several are listed in Resources below). Some donation programs even have local drop-off boxes.

5. Follow the instructions on your preferred donation site. Most sites allow you to select a charity to donate to. Research the charity you’re interested in first to see if it’s something you want to support.

6. Send off your phone and feel good about helping out others in need. Rather than just lying in the drawer, your old phone will now serve a purpose.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to erase your phone!

Resources

• Cell Phone Data Eraser
• Cell Phones for Soldiers
• Collective Good
• Charitable Recycling
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Donate A Phone Call to Protect Program
• Charitable Recycling (Canada)
• ExPhone UK
• iRecyclePhones (Recycle Phones & Plant a Tree)
• Using Cellphones to Change the World

[scales]

on 11/13/2009 This is a great reminder and tips.We donate phones to the military and Breast Cancer Foundations,the plastic envelopes come in with my magazines and book club orders.Since I'm out of phones I've been getting friends and neighbors to use them.No waste and recycled!thanks for all the info!5*