Lolita Sweet: Recycle those Old Cell Phones

Cell phones keep getting smaller and sleeker, so it's no surprise that many people are buying the latest styles. In fact, statistics show that at any given moment about 24 million cell phone users nationwide are considering purchasing a new model.

So what do we do with our old cell phones?

"Whatever you do, don't toss it in the trash, even if it doesn't work any more," says Jared Blumenfeld, director of San Francisco's Department of the the Environment.

Cell phone batteries contain lead, mercury and cadmium. When discarded at the landfill, the batteries can release toxic heavy metals into the groundwater, which can poison streams, wildlife and drinking water.

A better idea is to recycle your old cell phone - or refurbish it. In addition to reducing the amount of potentially hazardous substances in the environment, reclaiming and reusing the mercury and other heavy metals inside the battery saves us from having to mine new raw materials.

Refurbishing and Recycling Program
Verizon Wireless has teamed up with SF Department of the Environment to help San Francisco residents recycle cell phones, batteries and chargers. Whenever possible, cell phones collected here are donated to the Verizon Hopeline program, where they are repaired and sent to violence support agencies nationwide.

The refurbished cell phones can be lifesavers. The agencies give the phones to victims of domestic abuse, who can use the phones to call 911 in case of an emergency situation.

"One in four families in the United States is affected by domestic violence," said Rosario Navarette, interim director at the SF Department on the Status of Women. "With this new program, our ongoing efforts in the arena of reuse and recycling can now benefit San Franciscans in a very different and positive way,"

San Francisco International Airport is a major contributor to the program. Travelers from around the world accidentally leave their cell phones behind, and the Airport Police Lost and Found Department donates unclaimed phones to Verizon Hopeline.

"SFO has donated at least 50 unclaimed phones a month since we heard about the program," says airport officer Ginger Huey. "I feel good about collecting these phones that go towards a good cause instead of putting them into our landfill."

Since Oct. 1, 2001, San Francisco has put more than 2,000 phones into the hands of people who need them. Other regions are now adopting similar programs. In Texas, for instance, more than 10,000 phones have made their way to help victims of family violence through statewide efforts.

Drop-off Locations
You can drop off your old cellular phones at any Verizon Wireless store citywide. Verizon Wireless stores are located at 600 Harrison St., 199 Pine St., 1 Daniel Burnham Ct. (at Van Ness Avenue) and a new store at 1015 Stockton St., at Washington Street. All phone donations are tax deductible.

For more information on cellular phone recycling, call the environment department at (415) 355-3700 or visit our web site at www.sfenvironment.com.

Lolita Sweet is a public outreach associate at the SF Department of the Environment. Part of her responsibilities is to coordinate the cell phone donation program at the Department of the Environment. She also works with neighborhood groups and businesses citywide to improve recycling rates.