The rewards for upgrading our phones are diminishing, and we’re holding on to our phones longer than ever before. But every time we finally upgrade to the next big phone, we’re throwing out loads of our old ones, according to a UN Global E-Waste Monitor report released earlier this year.
And we do this at a rate nearly five times faster than comparable materials are recycled.
According to a UN report, between 2010 and 2022, the amount of e-waste will grow from 34 billion kilograms (about 75 billion pounds) to 62 billion kilograms (about 137 billion pounds). To underscore this point, the report estimates that 62 billion kilograms of e-waste could fill 1.55 million trucks, forming a train that would circle the Earth’s equator.
Meanwhile, the amount of e-waste recorded as being recycled increased from 8 billion kilograms to just 13.8 billion kilograms over the same period.
The United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union has set a target for 50 percent of the world’s countries (97 countries) to have e-waste policies, laws or regulations in place by 2023. But the report finds that progress is slowing, with only 81 countries (42 percent) having taken any steps to address e-waste. Other factors hinder the accuracy of the data; for example, systems for recording and reporting electronics recycling vary widely from country to country.
Here’s what you can do to get rid of your old electronics:
Watch: How to Recycle Your Old Cell Phones and Electronics
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How to Recycle Electronics
There’s no need to throw away your old cell phones, batteries, computers, and other gadgets. There are plenty of free and easy ways to recycle electronics, including by mail, at recycling centers, at big box stores like Best Buy or Home Depot, and even by taking them to the product’s manufacturer.
For example, if you live near an Apple store, you can drop off your old iPhone or other Apple products for recycling, some of which may be eligible for trade-in credit. According to Apple’s reuse and recycling program, by turning in your devices, “we’re getting closer to making all our products exclusively from recyclable and renewable materials.”
Here’s where you can recycle your old computers and printers for free.
For larger IT recycling needs, Dell’s Asset Recovery Services will pick up and safely process your equipment, even if it’s not actually a Dell product. If your business or group of friends has 10 or more phones to recycle, Smartphone Recycling will send you a bulk shipment of devices using a FedEx shipping label that you can print at home for free. In addition to phones, we also accept Apple products and other tablets.
You can also fix older devices: iFixit offers DIY guides, and tech companies also make it easy to remove and replace damaged parts. If you don’t like the DIY route, you can also take it to the manufacturer or a third party to have it repaired.
Read more: Phone and laptop repairs are going mainstream with a big boost from iFixit
