500 Million Used Cell Phones Pose Threat to Environment

emediawire.com ^

[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.

[The Great RJ]

I thought our landfills were to be overrun with disposable diapers which last longer than the pyramids and are full of every toxicity known to man. Before that it was used TV's and computers. I just can't keep all these environmental crises straight.

[Straight Vermonter]

In some European countries when you buy electronics a small charge is added at the time of purchase for recycling. When the item is broken or obsolete the user simply turns it in for recycling. Really it is the same as returning empty soda bottles.

[boris]

"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."

Where, he asked innocently, did all these evil substances come from? Were they deposited by aliens descending from flying saucers?...

...or were they taken from the f**king ground,, friend?

--Boris

[GingisK]

Yeah, all those nasty chemicals came from the cell phone factories ... certainly not from the ground.

[Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh]

The stupidity of articles like this is staggering. If cell-phones are a hazard, what the hell do they consider batteries to be?

500 million cell phones probably make up .000001% of the total volume of trash. And I would guess that batteries in general (9 volt, 12 volt, AA, AAA, C, D, etc) probably take up 1000 times as much space as the cell phones, since batteries are used for thousands of products.

I think I will avoid losing sleep over this article, and instead, prepare for an additional tax on my cell phone bill that does nothing to help the problem, but instead is used to pad federal/state budgets and redistribute my wealth.

[GOPJ]

Donate old phones to a local women's shelter. Cell phones, even when not activated, can be used to call 911. And it's a tax write off. Win/win.

[sergeantdave]

Hello Fierce -

I admit my ignorance of "nasty heavy metals in the Nicad and nimh."

Please inform me of pertinent peer reviewed studies indicating damage to water sources caused by Nicad and nimh, such as -

1) Affected water sources
a) location
b) ppm found
c) adverse affects
d) co-relation between batteries and consequent affects
e) time frame required to cause affects
f) laboratory studies showing ppm (or ppb) necessary to affect various study groups or animals.
g) soil composition
h) possible related environmental factors

2) Individuals involved in the studies
a) government, university or private researchers
b) source of funding
c) any connections with prior studies that might affect their objectivity
d) connections to groups or foundations, current or former

I'm interested in this subject for various reasons. If you can't refer me to the peer reviewed science because of personal commitments or other reasons, that's okay.

[RS]

"In some European countries when you buy electronics a small charge is added at the time of purchase for recycling. When the item is broken or obsolete the user simply turns it in for recycling. Really it is the same as returning empty soda bottles."

The difference being that they might actually recycle them... unless you melt it down you are simply paying a fee for the extra garbage you are tossing out.
... and if these cell4cash guys are willing to pay YOU for your old stuff, why would you need to pay an upfront fee ?

[BipolarBob]

Since reading these postings I'm feeling doomed - which as you know is not a good feeling. Which also makes me feel like a victim in a twisted sort of way. Which makes me want to sue somebody cause (I'm proudly part of that growing majorityof victims)I feel guilty using a cell phone. So if we all sue our way to riches we don't need those manufacturing jobs . . and . . and . . where was I? Oh yeah, we're all doomed.

[RS]

"Oh yeah, we're all doomed."

No,no... You were right, we are all the victims... so we get to sue the cellphone companies for billions... We can all retire on the judgement against them...

[Fierce Allegiance]

Uranium is also taken from the ground, but can be a little on the nasty side, wouldn't you agree? Similarly, coal tar, which has resided in the earth for eons, can create a serious pollution problem when not properly disposed.

My point is that while nothing new has been created, when removed from it's original location and/or modified in form can create new problems.

Why is recycling a problem for you? Are you saying it's just fine for this stuff to leach into our fresh water supply?

[Fierce Allegiance]

I think you are intelligent enough to figure out that nickel and cadmium have the potential to create pollution problems, and are also able to find all the info you desire on the effects of heavy metal pollution. Similarly, you can ignore these possibilities should you so desire.

Here's a link to help you:

Research Link

[boris]

"Uranium is also taken from the ground, but can be a little on the nasty side, wouldn't you agree?"

As Dr. Petr Beckmann pointed out, burning uranium in reactors actually reduces the net amount of radioactive material on earth.

When nuclear plants replace coal-fired plants, the amount of radioactivity released drops to near-zero. Coal, e.g., contains small quantities of radioactive substances, which are injected into the atmosphere when the coal is burned. So much coal is burned that the overall quantity of radioactive species is significant.

"Think globally."

--Boris