Can you remember a time when a mobile phone was a large brick shaped object that you had to carry in a briefcase and all you could do with it was talk to someone on a crackly phone line? Then only a few business people owned one, but now over 40 million people in the UK have a mobile.
And with every passing year mobile phone technology seems to make another big leap to a new level. Camera phones, games, street directions, video and music on the move and soon even live TV, all built into the standard phone set that you can now fit in your top pocket and not even notice it's there.
With the continual jumps in technology, it should come as no surprise to learn, most people that purchase a mobile phone these days do so to upgrade an existing phone. The reality is that users on average replace their mobile phone every 18 months. But let me ask you, when you next upgrade your current mobile phone to the latest model, what do you do with the old phone?
If you are like me then you would probably just throw it away without a second thought. The fact of the matter is that 15 million mobile phones are discarded in the UK every year. But this is actually not the most responsible thing that you can do with an old mobile.
Most mobile phones include arsenic in the semi-conductors and lead in the solder as well as a number of other harmful chemicals. While the amounts are very small and will not cause any harm during normal use, when disposed of in a landfill site they can do considerable damage to the environment.
Ask yourself this question, if you could find a better way to dispose of your old mobile phone, then wouldn't you want to make the extra effort and do it responsibly? Well now, you can.
Here are some suggestions of easy ways to get rid of your old mobile phone that won't cost you a penny and will ensure that it doesn't end up on a landfill site where it can damage the environment.
Freebee: Freebee (www.freebee.co.uk) is a web site committed to helping the environment by reducing the waste in our communities. You can use the web site free to give your mobile phone away to someone who may benefit from it. Not everybody wants the latest technology. Some people, like the old, only want a mobile phone for use in emergencies or to call for help when they are in distress. Your old mobile could be just perfect for them.
Phones 4 Schools: Phones 4 Schools (www.phones4schools.co.uk) is the largest mobile phone collection and recycling organisation for schools and colleges within the UK. Help support your local school by donating your old phone. For every 200 mobiles collected, £300 is donated to the school.
Help the Aged: Help the Aged (www.corporate.helptheaged.org.uk/) is one example of many charities that now accept donations of old mobile phones. By donating, they can turn your mobile phone into cash to help older people.
As you read this article, you now begin to realise that there is a better and more responsible way to dispose of your old mobile phone when it is time to upgrade. The enviroment is important, so don't polute it with irresponsible actions that can cause it harm. Every action, no matter how small, makes a contribution, so next time someone you know upgrades their mobile phone, make sure they read this article before disposing of the old one.
About the Author
Michael Hoar is the owner of Freebee, a web site committed to helping the environment by reducing the waste in our communities. Find out how you can make a difference by visiting the web site at www.freebee.co.uk.
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