Should you recycle old cellphones?

Recycling old mobile phones helps reduce the 65,000 tons of cellphones discarded into landfills by Americans annually. Many of the metals and elements inside of a phone are valuable and can be reused in new devices, reducing the necessity to mine new materials and helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Phones can be recycled at participating electronics retailers and mobile provider store locations such as Best Buy or Staples. Device manufacturers may also offer a mail-in recycling program. From there the phones are refurbished and resold or dismantled for parts and materials that can be used for other purposes. Phones may also be donated to help needy individuals and families around the world.