How problematic are smartphones for the environment?

The Germans buy 23 million smartphones every year. Most of them are used from 2 to 3 years. Then? Most end up in the drawer and sinks to forget – and with their precious raw materials. So it is better to recycle old cell phones. We explain what advantages the recycling of cell phones have.

1. The recycling of the mobile phone protects rare resources

Smartphones are technical miracles: in a minimum space they combine numerous useful functions. This is made possible to use different raw materials such as copper, aluminum, gold or cobalt. Each year 720 kilograms of gold are required and over 7000 kilograms of silver.

To win these raw materials, however, many people – including children also – have to work in sometimes horrible conditions. Because most of these rare and precious raw materials are divided into poor countries in Africa or Asia. In addition, resources mining in these countries is often extremely harmful to the environment, since toxic substances become freely in nature.

1.1. Too many cell phones are unused

According to a survey conducted by Digitalverband Bitkom, about 124 million unused smartphones are around in German houses. Many consumers cancel their old cell phone, often two or three.

Overall, many raw materials come together that they could be recycled and reused. Instead, the resources must be dismantled again for each smartphone just produced, although they would actually be available in old devices.

So it is better to contribute with something through the recycling of the mobile phone. To dispose of your mobile phone in a reasonable and, above all, ecologically, you have several options that we would like to present you below.

2. Recycling of the simple mobile phone with these 4 suggestions

As soon as a cell phone is no longer used because it is broken or no longer corresponds to the last state of the art, it should be recycled correctly. Because a smartphone not only contains precious raw materials, but also pollutants that must be disposed of ecologically.

The published cell phones are processed to be sold as used goods or are recycled. About 80-90 percent of old cell phones falls victim to the latter procedure. Only a small part of the devices is in good condition that further use is possible.

2.1. Property/recycling courtyard

In every city and community there are special courtyards for recycling and recycling in which it is possible to deliver old electrical devices. The path is particularly useful if you have stored other technological waste, blockers or other waste at home you want to get rid of.

Almost everything is accepted on the courtyards. Since farms are generally out, they are often difficult to reach without a car. For a single mobile phone, it is usually not worth it.

2.2. Mobile phone recycling at the mobile operator or electronics

Each electronics manufacturer must also resume disused devices and dispose of them correctly. As a rule, you can send the old cell phone to the manufacturer or network operator by post.

The envelopes of return without often are also offers for this. But usually you can also deliver your old mobile phone for recycling in the branches of mobile operators or electronic stores.

2.3. Earn money from the car

In the United States, projects such as Ecoatm have long been municipalities, where they can even earn money with old cell phones. The devices look like an ATM where you can put the mobile phone.

There is scanned and the residual value estimated. Then receive the amount paid. In Germany, similar machines have been tested at the Saturn's electrical specialists shop since 2019.

2.4. Recycling through collection points

Above all, you will find numerous online organizations that you can donate your old devices. However, pay attention to organizations that work for environmental protection. For example, the Nabu offers collection points where you can deliver your mobile phone.

There is an overview of the homepage where others are in your city. The Nabu also accepts the cell phones sent by mail. You can also send old smartphones from German environmental aid to handysfuerdieumwelt.de. The mobile box offers further collection points in many main cities.

3. What consumers can also do

In addition to the recycling of the mobile phone, there are obviously other sustainable measures that you can implement with your behavior alone.

• Delay the new purchase: Extend the use of the mobile phone and buy a new device only when the old man really gave up the ghost. With a cell phone case and display sheets, the duration of life can often be significantly extended.
• Repairs: Many parts such as the battery, the display or the camera can be exchanged relatively easily and cheap on the smartphone. In the meantime there are many shops that offer low mobile.
• Buy used used: If you need a new mobile phone, just think you buy a used one. The devices are generally in excellent condition and significantly cheaper than the purchase of a new one.
• Clean the mobile phone: regular cleaning can significantly extend the duration of the smartphone duration.

3.1. What should change in general?

In general, the production process for cell phones should work more accordingly according to ecological criteria. Not only in the use of resources, but above all with the duration of the life of the devices themselves. It should be easier to replace individual parts so that there are generally less electronic waste.

There are already first cell phones with a modular design. The fairphone or shiftphone are pioneers here, for example. Other manufacturers such as LG or Motorola have already experienced modular smartphones, but so far they have not just brought the market for alternatives to the market.

(51 votes, media: 4.40 out of 5)
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