Should You Throw Away Your Old Cell Phone?

On average, people will replace their cell phones every 1 to 4 years, depending on the term length of contract they have. Usually it’s the situation that when a post-paid contract is up, the carrier will offer you a new phone either for free or with a steep discount.

If your carrier has a storefront (like a Verizon Wireless store), they can take your old phone, transfer some or all of the data to the new phone, then keep your old phone to recycle properly – however most people don’t do that and keep their old phone.

Can you repurpose a phone that can’t make a call?

Yes, there are a few things you could still use your old phone for.

Emergency 9-1-1 only phone (United States)

Even with no number assigned to the phone, it still can place a call to 9-1-1 for emergency purposes.

Alarm Clock

If the phone has an clock alarm feature, it can be used as such without any number assigned.

Calendar Reminder Alarm

Most phones that have an alarm feature can also do calendar reminder alarms as well.

How to properly throw out a cell phone?

Let’s say for the moment you have no need for your old cell phone, it’s not worth selling and you want to throw it out. Here are the ways to go about that:

Drop off at any wireless phone store.

Any wireless phone store should take your phone off your hands with no grief because it’s the responsible thing to do. The only time they may put up an argument is if the phone is from a carrier that’s not them – but they shouldn’t. Phone are phones and they’re all recycled the same way.

Drop off at any computer recycling center.

It’s doubtful you’ll get any cash for your phone, but at least it’s a place where you can drop it off so it can be disposed of properly.

Throw it out yourself.

This is the absolute wrong way to dispose of a cell phone because it damages the environment – but there are some instances where you literally have no other choice. If there’s no wireless store or computer recycler near you and you just want the thing gone, the process is this:

a. Delete all data on the phone.

b. Take out the SIM card and physically cut it apart with scissors.

c. Take out the battery and the battery cover.

d. Toss the phone in the trash, but not the battery or clipped SIM card.

e. In the next bag of trash, toss the clipped SIM, battery and battery cover in there.

If any garbage-pickers come across the phone, it’s highly unlikely they’ll attempt to put it back together because the SIM, battery and battery cover won’t be there.

Again, this is a last-resort maneuver and is a seriously stupid way to throw out a cell phone. Always seek out a wireless store or recycler first.