Everyone knows it’s better to recycle, but that doesn’t mean people do it. All good intentions go out the window when it’s just easier to throw out items when you no longer need them. Before the only payback one could hope to get from recycling was the good feeling that comes from doing something deemed morally responsible. Lucky for you and me, there is now a financial motivation to ‘Save the Earth’. Cell phones have parts that are just as dangerous to the environment as computers are and like computers cell phones can be donated and some people even sell mobile phones for cash.

There are several organizations that will accept used cell phones as donations. Some phones are refurbished and given to domestic violence victims for emergency use. Other phones are donated for use by senior citizens with health problems who may need to keep in contact with care takers. Nearly all major U.S. cell phone carriers have now implemented their own cell phone recycling plan. Some offer discounts to be used toward the upgrade of a new phone while others allow people to sell phones for cash as a payoff of those willing to go extra mile and return a retired cell phone to a recycle center.

With so many incentives to recycle cell phones hopefully more and more people will consider doing so. Many stores such as Radio Shack, Best Buy, Office Depot and Staples offer mobile phone recycling center bins, where you can simply toss your unwanted mobile phone as you shop the store. You can also click here to find a list of places near you that accept cell phone donations.

© 2011, Tracy Renee Jones. All rights reserved.