Today's mobile phones are more technologically advanced than ever. And depending on your make and model of mobile phone, you may have stored some sensitive data on it. This can be a problem if you're thinking of recycling your old mobile phone. And you should be thinking about this. If you've recently upgraded to a new mobile phone, there's no reason for you not to recycle your old version.
What else will you do with an old mobile phone? If you have a newer model filled with better applications, you certainly won't be tempted to use your old phone ever again. So you'll do one of two things: You might set it on your desktop or inside a drawer and never use it again. Or, even worse, you'll dump it in the trash.
The mobile phone will then end up in a landfill somewhere. Not only will it take up valuable land, it might also leak dangerous toxic chemicals into the land. These chemicals include cadmium, lithium and mercury. Once they've leaked into the soil, they have a very good chance of making their way into a nearby waterway. And no one wants that.
What to do?
The best way to dispose of your outdated cell phone is to recycle it. This is easier than it sounds.
You can always check with your local municipality. Several hold special collection days during which they pick up old consumer electronics. They then send these devices, including unwanted mobile phones, to be recycled.
Or, if you'd like to get a bit of extra spending cash for recycling your mobile phone, you can always scour the Internet for a private company that recycles mobile phones. You've undoubtedly seen these companies advertise on the television or the radio. They promise to send you cash for your old mobile phones.
The amazing thing is, they actually do it. It's a bit like getting money without doing any work at all!
How it works
The process is fairly simply. You find on the Internet a company that recycles old mobile phones. You then click on your phone's icon on the company's Web site. The company will offer you a price for your phone. If you like it, accept it. If you don't, you might want to try another recycler for a better price.
Once you accept a price, the company sends you a padded envelope. You put your old cell phone inside and send it off. Usually within seven business days, you will receive your payment.
Erasing personal data
It's important, though, to erase all personal data from your mobile phone before you send it off for recycling.
The odds are good that you'll have a long list of phone numbers and addresses stored on your mobile phone. Before you recycle that mobile phone for cash, erase all of them. You don't want your personal information to fall into the wrong hands.
If you have any other personal information stored on your phone - entirely possible depending on the make and model of your mobile - erase that, too. Your goal is to send your phone back exactly as it was when you first purchased, empty of all your personal information.
Be sure, too, to remove your SIM card from your cell phone, too, before sending it off to be recycled. If you don't, the phone-recycling companies will simply destroy the card.
You shouldn't fear the act of recycling your mobile phone. If you take the right precautions, you will prevent your personal information from getting into the wrong person's hands.
At the same time, you'll be doing a good deed and getting paid for it. Yes, it really is a win-win situation.
To learn more about how you can recycle your mobile phone, and make some cash in the process try reading mobiles for cash [http://www.mobilesforcash.org.uk/] where you can find more on how to sell your mobile phone [http://www.mobilesforcash.org.uk/sell-your-mobile-phone] for cash, as well as a list of companies that will buy your old mobile phone from you before recycling it in an environmentally friendly manner.