Recycling Your Smartphones and Tablets

Millions of smartphones and tablets end up in landfills each year. Most people don’t realize what’s inside or their device. There’s the good and the bad. They contain precious metals including gold, silver, copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc, and lead. They also contain harmful chemicals that seep into the air and ground when thrown in a landfill. These chemicals include cadmium, antimony, arsenic, and beryllium. They’re know as PBT’s or Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins.

The problem is about half the people don’t realize the true value of their smartphone or tablet. According to a 2013 Google Consumer Survey, 51% of people end up “putting their phone in a droor or closet”. The phone can still be activated and used by someone who needs it. Many times, you can sell your old smartphone and that will cover the cost of your upgrade. Even broken devices can be used for parts!