Did you know that less than 5% of cell phones are recycled?  Cell phones contain a number of hazardous toxins that pollute our ground soil and water system when not recycled or disposed of responsibly.   These toxins include antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc.  They are persistent, lingering in the surrounding environment for long periods of time without breaking down.  These toxins are associated with a wide range of reproductive, neurological, and developmental disorders;  and of course cancer.  Unfortunately, all of the toxins from cell phones have all been discovered in the typical human body.

Most people do not realize that, in addition to the environmental problems created by cell phone disposal, there is also an ongoing humanitarian crisis.  The issue has to do with the Democratic Repubic of the Congo (DRC) formerly called Zaire.  The DRC has been in a state of civil war for over a decade.  The war has been fuelled primarily by an ore called columbite-tantalite, or colton.  When refined, the mineral is used to make capacitors found in cell phones and other portable electronic devices.  80% of the known reserves of this ore are located in the DRC.  Rebels have been illegally mining colton to fund their war efforts.  Up to 10 million civilians have been slaughtered since 1996 when the war began.

Another side effect of mining colton has been large forest areas being depopulated, resulting in a decrease in the gorilla population in the DRC by 90% in less than a decade.  The African elephants have suffered a similar fate.  Get the picture?

Cell phones are one of the most recyclable products there is.  Most can be re-used by various groups of people.  There are charities you can donate your old cell phone to or you can also sell the old phone to recycling companies.