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Cell Phones and the Growing Trend

I think almost everyone has a cell phone right? I for one, recently got mine last November for my birthday, but i was curios, what ever happens to all those old cell phones? I mean with all those new smartphones and Iphones they do get recycled right? Or at least re-used? Well I did some research and turns out, cell phones don't get as recycled as i thought. The article, "Old Cell Phones-Where do they GO?" by James Monsieur in ,http://www.cellforcash.com/free-articles/old-cell-phones-where-do-they-all-go.asp, mentions how every American has easy access to an upgrade or replacement for a cell phone which leads to 500 million un-used old cell phones just lying in your drawer. Well not only is it a bad thing, but statistics show not many cell  phones get recycled as the amount that are manufactured and sold. Only around 10 million get recycled and I think we can all agree and do the math as Monsieur clearly says it " it doesn't take a rocket scientist." In reality, cell phones are a neat gadget, i for one love mine, the browsing, the texting and the enjoyment i get, but i also know i can at least correctly recycle my old cell phone instead of just leaving it in my drawer where instead i can feel great about cleaning up the earth. Cell phone companies even have boxes to throw in your old cell phone. So instead of just tossing your old cell phone around, go to a cell phone company and dispose of it correctly, where you can safely and environmentally friendly say goodbye.

The Ugly Truth Behind Our Old Devices

Everyone at home has that one appliance that is never used or too old. Maybe an old DVD player, an old computer, an old printer and then what happens? They get shipped off and everything is okay right? If only it were true like we all believe. Those old appliances that you just threw away, maybe an old cell phone because it is ruined by the water, or your old iPod, all those devices do not end up in a local dump or get recycled, but rather they get shipped off in developing countries, where they shall lay for years and poison the environment. See, those devices that are amazing to us are not so amazing to the environment in the country, as the device has toxic chemicals within, that ruin the vegetation and pollute the surrounding. These appliances take, literally, a trip around the world, as most of them end up in China, India or Africa. Where workers must retrieve valuable materials by soaking the circuit boards in hot acid that melts the circuit boards away. Now i don't know about you, but hot acid? And that is not the worst part yet, the boiling acid has these toxic fumes that can lead to serious health problems. Due to little or no air ventilation, the workers inhale all those toxic fumes, poisoning their lungs which in years leads to cancer or major health problems. Oh did i forget to mention they do not have any sort of health regulations or support? That is right, the governments of these developing countries are not strong enough to create these regulation therefore the workers suffer the onslaught of inhaling venom everyday. The chemicals soon reach the surroundings and destroy any living ecosystems and any bodies of water. The city has now been taken over by electronic waste or e-waste as it is more known as. So those old appliances are not magically gone, but shipped across the globe to some other country where it is slowly being taken over by e-waste. Through the years e-waste creates a poisoned environment, creates major health problems and creates a dangerous black market. Next time you think about throwing your old device, think, you know where it will end up, you know the consequences. Instead throw it in a correct recycling center or tech stores. Best Buy recycles for free many appliances, old cellphones, music players and any other electronics. As well as cell phone companies have stands that accept your old cell phones. There is no magical dump out there, but instead a growing mountain side is being created by our old electronics waiting to tumble.