About 2 million cell phones per week will be retired or added to American landfills this year. Only about 1% are being collected and recycled.  CollectiveGood recycles used (working or non-working) cell phones (and batteries) on behalf of participating charities. The donor can select which charity receives the proceeds from the donated cell phone.

CollectiveGood’s recycling process save the generation of 6,545 lbs. of mining waste for every cell phone recycled, and makes 17 metals available for re-use as well as thermally recycling the plastics. The recycling program diverts toxic waste (lead, mercury, beryllium, cadmium, arsenic, etc.) from the landfills. Cell phones that can be recycled are donated to participating charities, and those that can’t be re-used are carefully recycled to re-use the metals and plastics.

Cell phones can be dropped off at Staples stores or FedEx/Kinkos, or can be mailed to CollectiveGood. Donations are tax deductible.

Pagers, Palm Pilots and other mobile devices can also be recycled, including the batteries.

You can specific which charity will receive the benefits of your donation. Charities participating include The Humane Society, Center for Domestic Violence Prevention, CARE, Earthworks, American Red Cross, MAP International, Congo Global Action, The Mountain Institute and others.

Some of the recycled cell phones are used by local staff in developing countries, or provided to needy residents in developing countries who have no access to landlines. Refurbished phones have been provided throughout the Caribbean, Latin America, Eastern Europe and India.

Full information on CollectiveGood’s programs can be found on their website.