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Discarded Cell Phones

psychictv points to a NYT story about discarded cell phones as an environmental hazard. The study mentioned in the article is available online. Every year or so we run a story on paper, disposable cell phones but even these would generate a fair amount of waste.

9 of 177 comments (clear)

  1. Know What I do with my old Phones? by ksplatter · · Score: 5, Funny

    I feed them to my personal Robot Rosie. She also enjoys PDA, Cogs and Sprockets.

    Doesn't anyone these days enjoy a good Jetson References. DAMN KIDS these days!

  2. My Discarded Cellphone... by LordYUK · · Score: 5, Funny

    After moving 3 states away from my coverage, I learned of a thing called "roaming"... learned it to the tune of 350 bucks... I disposed my cell phone by testing out gravity from the second story of my apartment complex... I'd like to state, as of last August at least, Gravity Still Works.

    Humor folks, enjoy it. =)

    (and for all you trolls who are going to flame me for "not know what roaming is" there were other factors not the least of which is phone companies suck alot, monopolistic bastards, and yes, I was aware I was roaming, there was simply no other choice for about 3 months...)

    --
    This is my sig. Its pathetic.
  3. Danger! by TheTorgie · · Score: 3, Funny

    Aren't cell phones dangerous enough when being USED? As if car accidents and brian cancer weren't enough, now we learn they kill the environment, too.

  4. Another problem with those paper cell phones. by Christopher+Thomas · · Score: 3, Funny

    Every year or so we run a story on paper, disposable cell phones but even these would generate a fair amount of waste.

    Not to mention the dangerous buildup of bogonium that would result in the disposal sites.

    Weren't the prototype phones always found to be disguised Nokia hardware? Hasn't the company producing these paper phones been denounced as a fraud every time this story comes up?

    1. Re:Another problem with those paper cell phones. by dattaway · · Score: 3, Funny

      Oh, that's not all! Cell phones disrupting the bogon force field is nothing compared to the other wastes humans are putting out. Consider the biohazard waste every man, woman, child, and diapered baby slings out every day. This toxic waste is being funneled into our sewer systems every day, yet no one notices. The EPA does not even regulate the dihydrogen monoxide wastes from private residences.

      I'd rather take a few circuit boards with chips securely soldered to epoxy-fiberglass circuit boards in trash bags than the biohazard infectious waste pumped back into our water system every day.

  5. Re:Do Something about It For Free by unicron · · Score: 5, Funny

    "With your generous donations, we can make sure children like little Pepsi(Pepi-whatever) here get the phones they need to keep up with all their little friends. Each month, your child will send you a heart warming letter telling you how he used the phone, be it to order pizza, make a booty call, or simply check the temperature. Sometimes we take it for granted, always upgrading our phone, getting the latest and greatest color, photo capable phone. It may break your heart to know that most of these kids don't even have call waiting. Please, send us your phone. Together, we can make the world a better place."

    --
    Finally, math books without any of that base 6 crap in them.
  6. Re:This probably will be reduced by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 4, Funny
    when the phones go to a single chip. In our head.

    That future might suck. For example: You finally meet the girl of your dreams. She's smart, funny, beautiful, available, and she digs you. She's perfect in every way -- except that she's been wired for an incompatible communications protocol.

    Bummer.

  7. Re:This probably will be reduced by pizza_milkshake · · Score: 4, Funny
    That future might suck. For example: You finally meet the girl of your dreams. She's smart, funny, beautiful, available, and she digs you. She's perfect in every way -- except that she's been wired for an incompatible communications protocol.

    in the future? i thought women have always been like this.

  8. Re:Of course they're an environmental hazard. by plover · · Score: 2, Funny
    Would you like to hazard a guess as to which cell phone "stuff" is NOT used by a computer? Here's the complete list:
    • antenna

    For those unfamiliar with "antennae", they consist of a length of hazardous stuff called "wire". Quite possibly the most hazardous part of a cell phone, especially when shoved forcefully into the ear.

    --
    John