500 Million Used Cell Phones Pose Threat to Environment

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[chance33_98]

500 Million Used Cell Phones Pose Threat to Environment

Studies show that 500 million used cell phones currently stored away in closets and drawers will eventually end up in landfills, where releases of the many toxic materials they contain create threats to human health and the environment.

(PRWEB) March 20 2004--Constant warnings from environmental groups over the past year have prompted a cell phone repair firm to begin a new company that will pay you to send them your old phone.

“We can refurbish old phones and put them back into use in poorer countries, so we are willing to pay individuals and groups to send old phones to us,” explained James Mosieur of http://www.CellForCash.com.

The warnings issued last year by INFORM, a national environmental research organization, did not fall on deaf ears. Mosieur’s firm, RMS Communications, Inc. formed a new division and set up a website at http://www.CellForCash.com.

The site offers individuals and groups from $3 to $75 per phone, and even provides free shipping to send the phones them.

The need for such a program is significant.

Cell phone use has grown from 340,000 in 1985 to an estimated 150 million today. The average life of a cell phone is only 12 to 18 months because users love to change to the latest and greatest new phone each year.

There are at least 100 to 500 million used phones right now, and by 2005 there will be at least 130 million phones retired annually, according to INFORM and other reports.

“Waste in the Wireless World,” a report issued by INFORM, warns of the toxic chemicals that could end up in our environment if all those phones are tossed into landfills. It was the inspiration for cell phone reuse and recycling.

“RMS Communications Group, Inc. has been providing wireless sourcing and repair services to the wireless industry for over 18 years. We knew that cell phones could be repaired and recycled, rather than tossed into the waste system. We now have the means to put old phones to good use in less fortunate countries, and protect our environment at the same time,” said Mosieur.

RMS gave birth to http://www.CellForCash.com and the response has been encouraging. Individuals and non-profit groups have been collecting phones and sending them in, but it is only the tip of the iceberg.

“Less than 1 percent of all mobile phones have been recycled. That means there are still millions of phones going to waste, and threatening our environment. One phone does not seem so hazardous, but the collective effect of 100 million phones per year on our environment is staggering. We can give all those phones a new home and prevent them from harming our fragile environment,” said Mosieur.

Mosieur’s company is following the recommendation of INFORM by offering financial incentives to turn in old phones. His website (http://www.CellForCash.com) provides complete, easy to follow instructions on how to send phones for reuse, with no shipping costs, and receive a payment in return.

CellForCash.com, located in Ocala, Fla., is run by RMS Communications Group, Inc, an industry powerhouse providing wireless sourcing and repair services to the wireless industry.

[chance33_98]

Yeah, we're all doomed.

[BadAndy]

So they want to send our discarded death phones to poor brown people who can't afford them and who will throw them into unlined, unmonitored landfills in 3rd world countries. This will increase the poverty and pollution in these countries. What a racist plan by the watermelon brigade.

[Fierce Allegiance]

seriously (and i am no enviro freak by any means) all the batterias we dispose from tools and phones, etc, contain nasty heavy metals in the Nicad and nimh.

They in turn make leachate in landfills, which, while well engineered, will eventually leak. Once free, they can be a real bitch to remove from water sources, etc.

The threat is clearly not as bad as some say, but still present.

[You Dirty Rats]

Poisoning from landfills kills millions every years. We're all going to die!

Pollution from solid waste is the most overrated health threat out there. More money is wasted fixing problems in this area than perhaps any other. Landfills with cell phones a health risk -- gimme a break!

[Fierce Allegiance]

never though about that. OH well, as long as WE have clean drinking water, i guess.

[South40]

+ = We are doomed!!!!!

[Poohbah]

Yeah, we're all doomed.

Ping.

[Rummyfan]

Doomed!!! This is series - and hugh too!

[RS]

"We knew that cell phones could be repaired and recycled, rather than tossed into the waste system. We now have the means to put old phones to good use in less fortunate countries, and protect our environment at the same time,” said Mosieur. "

Funny, their website REQUIRES that the phone be in working condition. "means to put old phones to good use" seems to mean "we can make a buck by being the middleman".

Don't take me wrong, it's great that someone can make a buck by palming off our garbage on less fortunate countries, but don't make it sound like they are doing someone a big favor ...

[Guillermo]

Yeah, but will THEY give up their cel phones?

LOL, not on your life pal.

[azhenfud]

"Don't take me wrong, it's great that someone can make a buck by palming off our garbage on less fortunate countries, but don't make it sound like they are doing someone a big favor..."

Okay. Send all your blown light bulbs to me and we'll repackage and resell them as dark bulbs.

[redhead]

"seriously (and i am no enviro freak by any means) all the batterias we dispose from tools and phones, etc, contain nasty heavy metals in the Nicad and nimh. They in turn make leachate in landfills, which, while well engineered, will eventually leak. Once free, they can be a real bitch to remove from water sources, etc."

Simple. scoop up some sand, put it into a retort, melt it, add phones, pour into ingots. When cooled into glass ingots, bury. No leakage.

[The Bard]

You know, my SUV has a built in cell phone... I guess that makes it twice as bad!

[South40]

You know, my SUV has a built in cell phone... I guess that makes it twice as bad!

Of course. It also, in the eyes of the enviro-wacko pus-bags out there, makes you twice as evil.

I drive a Jeep and use a cell phone daily...so count me in.

[Fierce Allegiance]

The materials in the batteries are recyclable, although vitirifcation is a great disposal method for nuke waste. deep well disposal. all gone!

[MD_Willington_1976]

Nah...they'll just end up as timing/triggering devices for detonators...

[Gorzaloon]

We now have the means to put old phones to good use in less fortunate countries, and protect our environment at the same time,” said Mosieur. "

Funny, their website REQUIRES that the phone be in working condition. "means to put old phones to good use" seems to mean "we can make a buck by being the middleman".

They need them to remotely detonate explosives.

[Gorzaloon]

Hey you type faster than I do!

[Texas_Dawg]

If the Mexican Invasion doesn't get us, the cell phones surely will.

We're all doomed.^{®2004 Texas_Dawg Productions, Inc.}

[RightWhale]

Toxic cell phones? The plastic? The batteries? The strange beeping melodies coming out of landfills in the dark of night?