A new cell phone contract usually means you get a new phone with all kinds of neat amenities. You're excited to have your new cell phone. However, you get home and sitting on your kitchen counter top is your used cell phone. What do you do with your used cell phone now that you don't need it? Actually, your best bet to be rid of it is to bestow it to some type of charity instead of tossing it away. There are several good reasons why cell phone donations are best. The purpose of this article is to examine a few of them.

It's important to understand the environmental impact a cell phone has. When a cell phone is improperly tossed into the garbage (every time a cell phone is tossed in the trash should be considered "improper"), it can pollute more than 35,000 gallons of water. In the United States alone, over two million phones every week are thrown in the garbage. It's not just the phones themselves that are bad, either. It's the lead batteries that go with them...no doubt a very big and hazardous problem for landfills. Add all of them together and nearly 65,000 tons of hazardous waste is getting into the environment every year as a result of people improperly disposing of cell phones.

If you want to be a solution to this growing problem, take your old cell phone to a charity. There's not just one charity that will take your used cell phone. There are tons of charities that will accept a used and/or refurbished cell phone. The only problem is that less than one percent of the cell phone user population will donate their old cell phones to charities. Make sure to be wary with online scams claiming to get rid of your cell phone to a charity. These places will just make a profit off your old cell phone and charities will not see it. Keep in mind that giving a charity your old cell phone helps the environment but it also helps the charity. Of course, not all online programs are scams - there are several reputable charities and vendors that will either recycle your old phone or put it to good use.

All cell phones manufacturers are required to have 911-service on the phone even if it does not have a service contract. If the phone has power and can turn on, it should have 911-service on it. The Federal Communications Commission enacted this rule several years ago as a safety measure. Charities can give refurbished cell phones to people who, while may not be able to get service, will have the ability to call 911 in the event of an accident or emergency. The phones are great for senior citizens who live alone and single mothers with small children; any age group who need help for whatever reason. Your old cell phone would give charities the ability to help these people in need should they have an emergency. Think of how nice it would be that your old cell phone has the power to save someone's life… if only you donate it to a local charity. What other reason do you need to donate your old cell phone now?