Properly recycling your old cell phone saves resources and prevents toxins from polluting the environment.If you're about to get a new cell phone-or have an obsolete model stu... read full tip

Properly recycling your old cell phone saves resources and prevents toxins from polluting the environment.If you're about to get a new cell phone-or have an obsolete model stuck in a drawer somewhere-sell or donate your old phone instead of tossing it in the trash.

Recycling your phone not only prevents Heavy metals from entering the environment, but also saves resources. Functional phones can be refurbished and sold to wireless users in other countries, while non-working phones are usually dismantled so that valuable components can be recovered and reused.

Many recyclers will pay for old phones-up to $20, depending on the model-which makes cell phone recycling a great fundraising opportunity for schools and organizations.

Because most wireless services offer phone upgrades every 18 months, it is estimated that some 150 million mobile phones become obsolete every year. If all of these phones were sent to recyclers instead of being tossed in the trash, more than 37 million pounds of e-waste could be diverted from landfills and incinerators annually.

For a cell phone recycler near you, visit ReCellular.com.

Earth911