Cell Phone Recycling is an Easy Call

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s has kicked off the cell phone recycling component of its Plug-In to eCycling program today by releasing a series of print public service announcements, “Recycle Your Cell Phone. It’s An Easy Call,” which highlight the convenience and environmental and social benefits of recycling a cell phone.

The program includes partnerships with cell phone makers, service providers and retailers include AT&T Wireless, Best Buy, LG Electronics, Motorola, Nokia, Office Depot, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Sprint, Staples and T-Mobile.

“Thanks to our Plug-In partners’ efforts, recycling an old cell phone has become a quick and easy way for Americans to help protect the environment,” said Susan Bodine, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “By dropping it off at a store or sending it through the mail, Americans have more recycling options today than ever before.”

EPA also introduced a podcast that addresses many common questions on cell phone recycling. Currently, less than 20 percent of unwanted cell phones are recycled each year.

For more reasons to recycle your cell phone, Earth 911’s Electronics page.