There are many materials that we find in our devices today, new things are added every time to improve their design or capacity. We can recycle many things from a mobile phone. The important thing is to know how to differentiate and know these pieces that make it up.
Aluminum, copper and iron are some of the things that we find in those old or damaged cell phones, which can still be useful for something: being recycled. We should know when is it convenient to repair the mobile or just get rid of them.
What parts of the mobile phone can be recycled?
Being mobile one of the most marketed devices worldwide, it is difficult to find someone at home who does not have at least one. They began as an effective means of communication, now the infinity of functions seems to have no limits, as do the elements that make them up.
Luckily, for our planet and for us, approximately 90% of these devices can be recycled, almost everything can be useful and reused to reduce damage to the environment. The most important parts to take into account when recycling are:
- Batteries 50% can be recycled.
- Cameras with a 90% probability.
- Processors with 80%.
- Chargers with a 100% chance.
- Screens with 100%.
All these components have materials that can be recycled with a certain percentage of chances of being useful again. By not having the recycling initiative and throwing our smartphones in the trash, we can run the risk of them ending up in unwanted places, electronic waste dumps, lakes or seas to further contaminate these spaces.
Materials to recycle from a mobile phone
The materials that can be used from a mobile phone, whether old or modern, when removing its parts are:
- Iron.
- Copper.
- Fiberglass or crystal.
- Plastics.
The batteries of our mobile phones They have lithium ions that tend to be contaminants for the environment, so its recycling is even more important than the rest of the parts.
How can I recycle my cell phone?
To begin the recycling process of your phone, old or current, after having detected serious damage or due to simple disuse, we must follow some steps. Although it may sound obvious, make sure you first delete any data or password that may still be present on the mobilea reset of manufactures It will be enough (if it still turns on).
Once you have advanced in that first step, do not forget remove the SIM card, external memory and battery from the mobile, it is better to have everything separately.
If you have several mobile phones
If you have several mobile phones, Separate them and check what you can save from them for your current phones. This may be an original charger (try to make sure it is the same brand and check the voltage). You can also save other components that are identical to the smartphones you currently have and work correctly.
Where to take your cell phones to recycle?
If you wish to sell your unused mobile phones To get a small fee for your materials, you can always post them on sites like Gumtree or eBay. Now, to offer them to companies that are dedicated to it directly, we recommend you visit some of these options:
- ZONZOO: They have been present in Europe since 2001, with them you can sell your used mobile phone and they even offer free collection (for orders of more than 10 euros).
- MovilBak: where you can exchange your cell phone for an incentive. You will notice that they have a search engine to examine your model or IMEI and know an approximate cost.
- d&m: a simple way to sell your mobile phone with very attractive prices.
Another option is the NGO called Amnesty International, which makes its web page to help eradicate bad practices when disposing of our mobile devices. You can also know the Oxfam Intercom initiative, another NGO that has proposals for this topic.
In conclusion, mobile phones are really useful today, but unfortunately they will not last forever. When the time comes to get rid of them, We know what we can recycle, where we can sell them and the steps you should take into account before to do it successfully.