We Shred & Recycle Cell Phones

Cell phones are a non-negotiable need in our lives. Also non-negotiable? The need to upgrade to a new model every couple of years. Although it doesn’t look like we’ll get away from planned obsolescence any time soon, we can at least recycle our cell phones. That’s where we come in!

Protect your personal information

Our cell phones play a major role in our daily lives. They store our most personal and sensitive information such as; passwords, card information, emails, social media accounts, and banking. While the ability to have these functions readily available to us at any given moment is incredibly convenient, data destruction is often overlooked and can lead to a serious breach of your personal information.

When you’re planning on replacing your phone, a major concern of many people is that your old phone will end up in the wrong hands and they will have the ability to steal your identity or hack into your personal accounts. Ensuring your cell phone is completely cleared before shredding is crucial. There are many methods to help keep your personal information private. One method is cell phone shredding. This is the easiest method because it does not require manually wiping the data from your device. Once the cell phone is destroyed, it is recycled according to EPA regulations and state waste laws.

Protect your personal information

Our cell phones play a major role in our daily lives. They store our most personal and sensitive information such as; passwords, card information, emails, social media accounts, and banking. While the ability to have these functions readily available to us at any given moment is incredibly convenient, data destruction is often overlooked and can lead to a serious breach of your personal information.

When you’re planning on replacing your phone, a major concern of many people is that your old phone will end up in the wrong hands and they will have the ability to steal your identity or hack into your personal accounts. Ensuring your cell phone is completely cleared before shredding is crucial. There are many methods to help keep your personal information private. One method is cell phone shredding. This is the easiest method because it does not require manually wiping the data from your device. Once the cell phone is destroyed, it is recycled according to EPA regulations and state waste laws.

Importance of recycling cell phones

With millions of phones thrown away every year, cell phones account for the fastest growing type of electronic trash. Although there are recycling options, many of these phones get thrown in the trash. This is problematic for four primary reasons.

1. Cell phones can pollute the environment: Phones and other electronic waste contains hazardous substances that pollute the environment. If the phones are burned in a landfill, then these toxic materials are released into the air. If phones sit in a landfill, then substances like lead, mercury, and arsenic seep into groundwater supplies. With the average American getting a new phone every 18-24 months, these pollutants accumulate quickly.
2. Cell phone waste creates health issues: Due to the toxic materials polluting our water and air as mentioned above, both people and animals can experience adverse effects. Lead is a known carcinogen while also impacting cognitive function. Mercury can kill animals while causing issues in humans like muscle weakness and memory loss.

3. Cell phones require intensive mining: The copper, silver, cobalt, and other materials needed for phones must be mined. The mining process, which often occurs in poor countries, is damaging to the environment and the humans – often children – who are doing the mining. By recycling phones, we can use these precious minerals in new phones while reducing the need to mine.

4. Cell phone production uses energy: The energy required to produce millions of cell phones every year is significant. From plastic manufacturing to metal processing to distribution, a huge amount of energy is used to get you the cell phone in your hand. By sending your phone to be recycled, it can either be refurbished for members of the military, women living in domestic shelters, or those in other countries. For phones that can’t be refurbished, the parts will get sold to the commodities market, where materials like steel and nickel can be used as is or melted down for other purposes. By using what we already have, we’re reducing the energy required to create new phones and/or mine new materials.

Use DataSafe for all your shredding

Whether you need to dispose of cell phones, boxes of paper and documents, or old hard drives, you can count on DataSafe to make your life easier. Not only are our trained experts reliable and professional, but we ensure that your materials are disposed of in the most secure way possible. We’re proud to offer a variety of convenient shredding options, including weekly, monthly, and customized schedules, as well as shredding at your location or ours. No matter what option you choose, you’ll receive a Certificate of Destruction (and peace of mind!). Questions? Contact us at 503-620-3423 or fill out our form and we’ll get back to you soon.