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Recycling Old Cell Phones (redux)?

Posted by Cliff on from the please-keep-them-out-of-landfills dept.

Tweakmeister asks: "With the product cycle for cell phones being what seems like months, is there any use for old phones? How about pagers? A search reveals some initiatives to recycle them or send them to foreign countries. Have you found any alternative uses for old cell phones?" We last touched on this subject in this previous article, from two years ago. Have any new ideas shown up on the horizon, since then?

9 of 36 comments (clear)

  1. Keep one in your car. by Pathwalker · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Any cell phone, even one without service, can call 911.

    The old beat up cell phone (with an auto adaptor, or a single use emergency battery) in your glove box may save your life someday.

    1. Re:Keep one in your car. by jquirke · · Score: 3, Informative

      Yes, any GSM phone is required to be able to make a call to '112' whether a SIM / PIN code is present or not. It simply sets the "EMERGENCY" cause establishment in the CHANNEL REQUEST message, and it is up to the network to decide whether or not to allow emergency calls (most do).

  2. Donate them locally by balamw · · Score: 5, Informative

    There are various programs to collect used cell phones for various causes, one that makes a lot of sense is the Call to Protect which will benefit the victims of domestic violence.

    Balam
    1. Re:Donate them locally by StillDocked · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I concur, and in most cases the donation is tax deductable. Not only do you create an excuse to buy new hardware, you also are doing something good for someone else, and receive a deduction for the full cost of the cell phone at purchase. This is a win-win-win situation.

    2. Re:Donate them locally by Gopher · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I also concur. You may want to ask Rape Crisis teams or women's shelters in your area if they want phones as donations. My sister-in-law volunteered as a counsellor for one, and they always accepted donations of cell phones.

  3. How about ... by one9nine · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Use it to make and receive calls. I've had my original cell phone for almost three years you insensitive clod.

  4. Batterd women's shelters by barzok · · Score: 4, Informative

    I seem to recall hearing that battered women's programs/shelters give phones to their clients. In the US (or maybe it's just New York), all cell phones must be able to connect to 911 even if they're not set up with a subscription. So, if someone's in trouble, they have a free call to 911 no matter where they are.

  5. Skeet. by cybermace5 · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Pull!"

    *BLAM*

    "Can you hear me now?"

    *maniacal laughter*

    --
    ...
  6. Holy crap! by jarran · · Score: 2, Funny

    Send pagers to foreign countries? Are you insane? Aren't foreign countries full of terrorists who are just desperate to you foreign pagers to orchestrate the killing of freedom lovin' people?