{"id":7086,"date":"2022-06-24T11:47:46","date_gmt":"2022-06-24T18:47:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/?p=7086"},"modified":"2023-01-11T13:24:50","modified_gmt":"2023-01-11T21:24:50","slug":"10-ways-to-recycle-old-cell-phones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/10-ways-to-recycle-old-cell-phones\/","title":{"rendered":"10 WAYS TO RECYCLE OLD CELL PHONES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Did you know that the glass in your smartphone could take 1-2 million years to decompose!? That\u2019s why after upgrading to a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/shopping\/choose\/device\" target=\"_blank\">brand-new device<\/a>, it\u2019s important to recycle your old one so that it won\u2019t sit in a landfill for eternity. There are many ways to recycle your old device, from donating it to someone in need to turning it into a security camera. Here are 10 creative ways to recycle your old device!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Donate your Old Phone to Charity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We will start with the best one, donate it to charity! There are tons of charities all over the United States that will take your old phone, fix it up and then pass it on to someone who doesn\u2019t have access to a smartphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some charities to check out include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Cell Phones for Soldiers<\/a> &#8211; A national non-profit organization that provides cost-free communication services and emergency funding to active-duty military members and veterans.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Second Wave Recycling &#8211; An easy, secure and free program to recycle new, used, and broken devices to support charities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ECO-CELL &#8211; Based in Kentucky and has bins where you can drop off your phone. The bins are placed at several zoos around the country, with a list available on their website. This might seem like an unusual location, but it fits with ECO-CELL&#8217;s mission to help protect endangered gorillas and chimpanzees whose natural habitat is disrupted by mining for cell phone materials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Permanent Alarm Clock<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most practical way to recycle your old phone is to make it a dedicated alarm clock with an app that can help you fall asleep or ease you into your day. Try <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/carrot-alarm\/id623700355\" target=\"_blank\">CARROT Alarm<\/a>, a twist on your basic alarm where you have to complete a few hilariously bizarre chores to shut off the alarm. Or download <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/id915664862\" target=\"_blank\">Pzizz<\/a>, which helps you quickly quiet your mind, fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up refreshed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now it\u2019s time to get more creative! Here are eight unique things you can do with your old cellphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Learn Something New<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With an old phone, you can finally try out some tech DIY. Learn how to replace a broken screen or try something more challenging, like disassembling and reassembling a phone. If you&#8217;re interested in learning how to fix an old device, YouTube is an excellent resource for third-party tutorials for both <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=4mSGO12pphQ&amp;list=PL4INaL5vWobBE4dtgFJIfbAxvvr-jdaUS\" target=\"_blank\">iPhone<\/a> and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=WWGP1mq72lQ&amp;list=PL4INaL5vWobD3_P8lLvux1DTiHz2BJnA7\" target=\"_blank\">Android<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Recycle Into a Wallet or Piggy Bank<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your old phone is totally destroyed and cannot be repaired, turn it into a wallet or piggy bank. This will require you to take out the tech inside, leaving just a shell of the phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Turn it into a Security Camera<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you looking to spend less on a security camera? You can use your old smartphone! If you have an old Android, you can download WardenCam. It allows you to view live streaming and past events through motion-captured recordings. WardenCam can help you determine if your package arrived, help check on your loved one\u2019s health and safety, or determine what your pets are up to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have an iPhone, download <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/apple-store\/id966460837\" target=\"_blank\">Alfred<\/a>. The all-in-one app provides more features than a basic, expensive security camera. You can get a live stream, instant intruder alert, walkie-talkie, and unlimited cloud storage to store, share, and playback your video footage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Make a Universal Remote Control<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is one of the most popular ways to reuse an old smartphone. Whether it&#8217;s running Android or iOS, you&#8217;ll be able to control almost anything in your smart home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use apps like <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.amazon.storm.lightning.client.aosp&amp;hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amazon Fire TV<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.roku.remote&amp;hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Roku<\/a> to stream your favorite shows. While apps like <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.illusions.rcauniversalremotecontrol&amp;hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RCA Universal Remote<\/a> for Android or <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/universal-remote-tv-smart\/id1401880138\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Universal Remote TV<\/a> for iOS will give you the control to change the volume of your TV, change the channels, play\/pause video, power on\/off, and access settings menus and other on-screen elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Create a Portable Gaming Device<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Want a way to entertain your grandchildren on long car rides? Turn your phone into a permanent portable gaming device. You can download their favorite games right onto your old smartphone for unlimited hours of fun! Games like <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.nianticlabs.pokemongo&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US\" target=\"_blank\">Pok\u00e9mon Go<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.mojang.minecraftpe&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US\" target=\"_blank\">Minecraft<\/a>, or <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.king.candycrush4&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US\" target=\"_blank\">Candy Crush<\/a> keep them occupied on long car rides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Leave it in Your Car Permanently<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Setting your phone up every time you get into your car can take a long time. With an old smartphone, you can permanently fixate it into your car\u2019s phone holder for an easy-to-access GPS. This means you never have to waste your regular phone\u2019s battery or data again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sell Your Old Device<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your discarded device is in good shape, it may be worth some cash. First, you can try selling your old phone directly to a buyer through eBay or Craigslist. Other sites like <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sellcell.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Sell Cell<\/a> are a fast and easy way to sell your phone online.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Turn into a Play Phone for your Grandchildren<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With your old smartphone, you can play pretend with your grandchild. Make-believe you are calling each other or practice with them on making important calls, like 9-1-1. Though, make sure they know that the phone is just a toy, and if there is an emergency, they should find an adult immediately.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know that the glass in your smartphone could take 1-2 million years to decompose!? That\u2019s why after upgrading to a brand-new device, it\u2019s important to recycle your old one so that it won\u2019t sit in a landfill for eternity. There are many ways to recycle your old device, from donating it to someone [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":7088,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.13 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\r\n<title>10 WAYS TO RECYCLE OLD CELL PHONES - Our Blog<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From turning your phone into a permanent alarm clock or donating it to people in need, here are 10 creative ways to recycle your old cell phone.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/10-ways-to-recycle-old-cell-phones\/\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Susan Thomas\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\r\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"10 WAYS TO RECYCLE OLD CELL PHONES - Our Blog","description":"From turning your phone into a permanent alarm clock or donating it to people in need, here are 10 creative ways to recycle your old cell phone.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/10-ways-to-recycle-old-cell-phones\/","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Susan Thomas","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/10-ways-to-recycle-old-cell-phones\/","url":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/10-ways-to-recycle-old-cell-phones\/","name":"10 WAYS TO RECYCLE OLD CELL PHONES - Our Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2022-06-24T18:47:46+00:00","dateModified":"2023-01-11T21:24:50+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/bea0076e2c8f754131a2652cab7eef98"},"description":"From turning your phone into a permanent alarm clock or donating it to people in need, here are 10 creative ways to recycle your old cell phone.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/10-ways-to-recycle-old-cell-phones\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/10-ways-to-recycle-old-cell-phones\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/10-ways-to-recycle-old-cell-phones\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"10 WAYS TO RECYCLE OLD CELL PHONES"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/","name":"Our Blog","description":"Consumer Cellular Blog","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/bea0076e2c8f754131a2652cab7eef98","name":"Susan Thomas","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/97587a1993268816fb7e8b3468bfb3d7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/97587a1993268816fb7e8b3468bfb3d7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Susan Thomas"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/www.consumercellular.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/author\/susan\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7086"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7086"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7086\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7359,"href":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7086\/revisions\/7359"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7088"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.consumercellular.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}