Yes! You can recycle your wireless device. All wireless phones and their accessories are recyclable. CTIA and its member companies have established Wireless…The New Recyclable™, a national voluntary recycling program for wireless devices and accessories.
Wireless…The New Recyclable™ participants operate take back programs where consumers may turn in their wireless devices and accessories to be disposed of or refurbished in accordance to the federal recycling and refurbishing guidelines.
- Terminate the service on the wireless device you would like to recycle.
- Clear you phone’s memory of all information you have added to it, and remove the SIM card if you your device has one. This is very easy; for specific instructions for your phone model click here.
- Take your device and/or accessories to participating retail store outlets or mail it in through a mail-in program. Check with your carrier for specifics.
- Items that can be recycled are as follows:
- Wireless phone handsets
- Personal digital assistants (PDAs) that operate on wireless networks
- Wireless computer cards
- Accessories such as spare batteries, phone chargers, cables, headsets,
earpieces, cases, clips and cradles.
Once a used wireless device is dropped off at a participating retail store, or mailed to a carrier or manufacturer with mail-in programs, the product will typically be packaged and shipped to a facility for evaluation. From there, it will be:
- Reused: If wireless devices and accessories are in good working condition, they
are re-used by a number of worthy charities.
- Refurbished: Wireless devices may be reconditioned or repaired. Companies
often refurbish the products and return the devices to service.
- Recycle/Recovered: When wireless devices reach their end-of-life, they are sent
to processing facilities that recover and safely recycle
reusable materials.