powered by wind
Cellular Recycler turn cellular phones into cash
programsget startedcustomerscompany information



FAQs

What happens to the cell phones?
About 80% of phones that are bought or collected through Cellular Recycler are refurbished and reused so that they can have a longer life. The other 20% are recycled for the precious metals within the United States according to EPA standards. Although they have no value, cell phone accessories are also sorted into two categories. Working accessories are resold for continued use. Non-working accessories are recycled within the U.S. according to EPA standards. We estimate that together Cellular Recycler and our partners have kept over 3 million cell phones and over 1 million accessories out of landfills.

What happens to the information that is on the cell phone?
Whether a phone will be refurbished or recycled, the memory of each phone is 'flashed' to wipe out any previous information stored on the phone and allow for reprogramming. However, for maximum privacy Cellular Recycler recommends that you clear out all existing data from your phone before it is sent in.

What cell phones do you accept?
We accept all makes and models of cellular phones. Even cell phones that you might consider junk are worth $0.25 and the best makes and models can bring $35 to the charitable organization of your choice. Chargers, batteries, cases and other accessories have no value. However, working accessories are resold for continued use. Non-working accessories are recycled within the U.S. according to EPA standards.

How many used cell phones are really out there?
According to the CTIA, 150 million phones are retired every year. This means that literally millions of dollars worth of valuable equipment is waiting to be reused or recycled. It’s our goal to promote widespread cell phone collection programs in order to collect charitable contributions and keep toxic materials out of landfills.

Don't most people just throw their phones out?
We hope not! Unfortunately, many cell phones contain materials that become hazardous as the components break down in landfills. About 75% of retired phones are still stored in the user’s home and an estimated 15% have made it into landfills according to a study done by INFORM. This means that literally millions of dollars worth of valuable equipment is waiting to be reused or recycled. The more we can communicate about cell phone collection programs, the more materials we can keep out of landfills.