Make A difference and Recycle your Old Mobile

Are you a bit short on spending money these days? You certainly wouldn't be alone. A growing number of UK residents are feeling the pinch of the country's down economy. If you're looking for some extra cash, think about recycling your old mobile phone for money.

There are several private recycling companies that are now accepting old mobile phones throughout the country. They are refurbishing these devices and donating them to people who need mobile phones but can't afford them. In other instances, they are sending these phones to non-profit groups or charities that also can't afford to buy their own mobile phones.

When these recycling companies receive mobile phones that aren't in working order, they still make good use of them. They may disassemble the phones and then recycle their important components, including the plastics and metals that make them up. In fact, about 80 percent of the components of most mobile phones are recyclable.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of UK residents never bother to recycle their old mobile phones, even for the possibility of cash. Studies suggest that of the 90 million or so unwanted mobile phones now scattered about the country, only a tiny number are ever sent in for recycling. Only 3 percent of mobile phone owners ever actually bother to recycle their old phones.

Most simply stow their unwanted mobiles in dresser drawers, cubbyholes or briefcase bottoms. This is bad enough. But many others toss their mobiles in the nearest trash can. This is especially troublesome because these phones then end up in the bottom of landfills.

And mobile phones don't just sit there. They often leak possibly dangerous chemicals such as lead, beryllium and cadmium into the soil.

You should buck this trend. Be one of the minority who recycles their old mobile phones for cash.

You can do this simply enough. Search the Internet for mobile phone recyclers. You'll turn up pager after page devoted to online firms that offer this service. Find one you like, search for your particular phone make and model and click. You'll instantly receive a cash offer.

If you like this offer, accept it. You can then request a padded, self-addressed envelope to mail your phone in to the recycler. Or, if you don't want to wait, send the phone to the recycling firm in your own envelope. You can then expect your payment in seven business days.

And what will that payment be? This depends on the make and model of old mobile phone that you are recycling. Some newer models may fetch anywhere from 40 pounds to more than 100. Older, less in-demand models may only generate offers in the 10- to 20-pound range.

You can even sell non-working mobile phones for cash. Of course, the offers for these phones won't be as high. Still, it's almost like receiving money for nothing.

Once you do recycle your mobile phone, make sure to spread the word among your family members, friends and co-workers. You might be surprised to learn that the majority of your acquaintances have no idea how to recycle their old mobile phones. You can help change this, though, by telling them all about how positive your recycling experience was.

Recycling your old mobile phones for cash is a simple and profitable process. Don't hesitate to do it when you're ready to upgrade to a newer model of mobile phone. And once you join the phone-recycling bandwagon, make sure to invite others on. We'll never reduce the stress on our nation's landfills until we make some positive changes.