Update: Where to recycle your cell phone

WIPE-OUT WIRELESS WASTE

Each year, Americans retire an estimated 130 million cell phones, of which only 15% are recycled or reused. These small electronic devices are extremely harmful to the environment because they contain lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. When not properly disposed of, these chemicals are absorbed by the soil and are washed into the ground water.

In order to reduce the amount of toxins entering our environment, Keep Charleston Beautiful (KCB) will be sponsoring a cell phone recycling campaign during the month of January. At the completion of the event, KCB will send all cell phones to a recycling company for proper disposal. Cell phones in good condition are refurbished and sent to individuals around the world who cannot afford a cell phone by the company. Those phones not eligible for refurbishing are disassembled; all recyclable materials are removed and the remaining materials are properly disposed of through U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. Any proceeds will benefit the KCB environmental education program.

During the 2008 event, KCB collected 163 phones and accessories, keeping 41.5 pounds of potentially hazardous waste out of the landfill. This year, there will be community drop-sites at the following locations:  Bank of America on Meeting Street, Blackbaud, MUSC, Rising High, the City’s Parks Department at 823 Meeting Street, 50 Broad Street, Ben and Jerry’s in the Market and Earth Fare on Folly Road. 

Bank of America, Blackbaud, MUSC and the City of Charleston will also be holding internal drives to collect phones from their employees. Individuals may recycle their phones at any time by contacting KCB if they miss the event during the month of January.  Phones may also be donated to local charities which give them to people in need. 

Since 1977, Keep Charleston Beautiful has been working to maintain the beauty of the area through education, litter control and beautification programs. KCB is a committed group of community leaders appointed by Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. to take the lead in keeping the City of Charleston clean and beautiful. An affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Palmetto Pride, KCB works with other national and state organizations to promote a clean and beautiful environment for all Americans. Keep Charleston Beautiful is a division of the City of Charleston Department of Parks.