Recycling Your Old Mobile Phone

When mobile phones break down, or become outdated, it is really important that they are recycled rather than just dumped as the handsets contain toxic parts that are damaging to the environment. When these go to landfill, they leak into the earth and essentially poison the atmosphere. If these handsets contain toxic parts, then what parts of the mobile phone are safe to recycle?

According to the GSM Association, which is the group that represents mobile phone makers, eighty per cent of your old mobile phone is recyclable. These recyclable elements include the plastic used in your phone casing, as well as the variety of metals that make up your phone, including small amount of gold, silver and platinum.

The remaining 20 per cent of unrecyclable parts of your phone can actually be quite dangerous. Toxic elements like lead have to be removed and disposed of very carefully, so as not to damage the atmosphere.

Giving a child their own cell phone can be a good way to teach them responsibility, and the value of money. A pay as you go phone will give children an immediate sense of how much their phone use is costing them, and will convince them of the need to limit their phone use for financial reasons.

Another way in which mobile firms are trying to help combat the environmental damage caused by mobile phones is by standardising their mobile phone chargers. Many companies have signed up to an agreement that promises to do just that by 2012, and will mean eventually, when you come to you buy a new phone, you can keep your old charger as it will fit the majority of phones on the market.

Another common concern is that children will run up giant phone bills by talking to their friends all the time, without realising how much it is costing.

Naturally, the mobile phone manufacturers have managed to find ways to allay these concerns. Most of the kiddie phones that are currently available allow parents to set strict limits on what the phone is used for, and when it can be used.

However, you shouldnt rely merely on software controls to keep your children from abusing their phone privileges. It is highly recommended that you set down some ground rules for their phone usage, such as not letting them use it while eating, or when they are meant to be doing their homework.