For years, I was one of those who never thought that cell phones can be even be recycled. Many people these days have one or two cell phones hidden in a drawer somewhere. After a while, when we find these old mobile phones again, these will most likely end up in the trash bin, and eventually, in our town's landfill.

However, like other challenges posed by our consumerist lifestyle, there's always a better solution. Cell phone recycling is the better, more environmentally-responsible, even more financially-rewarding option.

Let's review the actual figures about the dismal situation of cell phone recycling in the US today. Every year, 37 million more used cell phones are hidden in our lockers, and 10 million more units end up in our landfills. Of the 125 million cell phones replaced every year, only 9.4% are recycled. There are now close to a billion total used cell phones in the US, today.

Like most electronic waste, cellular phones contain metals and chemicals that are extremely lethal to humans. Toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium are found in the circuit boards and batteries of cell phones. Cancer-causing chemicals like brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are also present in the casing of many cell phones. Lead, one of the most dangerous metals known, has been identified as a leading cause of brain development problems in children and diminished brain functions in adults. Cadmium mixtures are carcinogenic and exposure to this metal can trigger liver, kidney (irreversible, and often fatal), respiratory and bone density problems.

Given what we know about solid waste disposal and landfills in this country, can we guarantee that the electronic wastes we deposit in our landfills wont be able to leach harmful chemicals to our underground water systems? I don't know about you, but I'm not prepared to wager on the health of my family or yours, in such uncertain arrangements. The probability of contamination is just too high. Dumping e-waste in our landfills is tantamount to poisoning ourselves.

Sending your used phone to a recycler can be quite profitable. Recycling and refurbishing companies will pay as much as $50 cash (depending on the model) for every unit you turn in. Shipping is usually free for mailings with at least 5 units. The company will then unload these refurbished cell phones to volume buyers here and abroad, helping improve mobile communications in developing countries in Africa and Latin America.

Umicore, a Belgium-based giant recycling business, harvests precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, copper, and coltan, as well as manufacturing materials like glass and plastic from tons of old cell phones. They call this process ?surface mining.? There's actually more gold to be found in a ton of cell phones than from 17 tons of gold rocks! Only half of 1% of the e-waste that go through the recycling process can not be returned to the production cycle and is then used for electricity generation.

Attempting to extract precious metals from your cell phones at home is not a sound idea because of the dangerous industrial chemicals used in the process and the fact that only trace amounts are found in each unit. The giantrecycling companies make a profit by recycling millions of old mobile phones.

How do you recycle cell phones?

Assist your chosen charity or non-profit collect funds for their projects or charities by giving your used mobile phones to them. You can even initiate your grassroots recycling drive by collecting old cellular phones in your workplace, city or county and sending these to trading companies to benefit your favorite charity. Ask for assistance, communicate with other individuals and outfits who are doing the same. For all you know, there's now a mobile phone program currently being conducted in your community, and help from you would be greatly appreciated.

How often do Americans replace their cell phones? A study by EPA shows that a large number of Americans replace their cell phones every 18 months, on average. Now, after 1 and ? years of use, these old phones are still perfectly functional. You can lengthen the utility of these phones by handing them over to a relative or a friend. Don't forget to remind your friend or relative to recycle the phones responsibly, when the time comes for them to get rid of it, later.

Recycle cell phones through recycling and refurbishing companies.

Want to send an used cell phone to a trading and refurbishing site online? It's a fast and easy solution, you can verify out the buying price for your used phone and request for free shipping label from their website. The company usually covers postage of batches with 5 or more units. Once you have the labels, you can mail your phones to them, and wait for your money in the mails, which generally, takes about 4-5 business days after they received your phones.

Mail back your used cellular phones to the manufacturer or service provider.

Cellular phone makers are always focused about the availability of production resources. Makers like Nokia, Alcatel, Motorola, as well as service networks like AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint, all have mobile phone trade-in or repurchase programs to ensure that they have a stable stream of recyclables for their production cycle. Surrendering your old phones back to them ensures that these phones are recycled in an environmentally-friendly way. Shipping is usually free, and there many wireless outlets who have phone recycle boxes ready.

I've shared with you here just a few methods to recycle that used cell phone in your drawer, right now. Please remember to share these tips with friends and encourage them to recycle, as well. United, we can accomplish so much good helping preserve the environment and protecting our own health, through cell phone recycling.

Let's recycle old our cell phones, today. It's an ?easy call? to make.