Old cell phones piling up by the millions

Sep 23 2004 - 12:07 AM ET | In The News

Today's Wall Street Journal has a piece [Paid subscription req.] about old unused cellphones stacking up in record numbers. While there is no way to get ahold of the actual numbers, the estimates are eye-popping: bq. An astounding 100 million cellphones will be taken out of service in the U.S. this year, says Yankee Group Inc., a technology research firm in Boston. The majority, an estimated 60% to 70%, will be saved in closets or desk drawers, say environmental and industry groups. Only about five million will be refurbished or recycled, these groups say. That means at least 25 million phones will end up tossed in the trash in the U.S. alone. Most cell phone carriers have recycling programs and there are groups like CollectiveGood that help make the process a snap (and even help get you a tax deduction).

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