Go Eco with your mobile phone with SIM Only, Recycling and green Apps
Mobile phones are now a part of everyday part of life not only in the developed world but increasingly in many developing countries. However, these modern day necessities have also become a major source of environmental degradation.
Every year, millions of people around the world upgrade their mobile phones often discarding the old phone rather than recycling them. Discarded mobile phones, computers and other electronic devices usually end up in garbage dumps and landfills creating a major high tech waste problem.
Electronic waste often contains highly toxic materials that can negatively impact the environment for decades or even generations. A CRT monitor, for example, can contain between four to eight pounds of lead, a highly toxic heavy metal. Flat panels do not use lead but contain mercury, an equally dangerous toxin.
Recycling mobile phones
One of the easiest to help with the electronic waste problem is to recycle rather than discard your old mobile phones and computers.
A number of companies will even purchase your old phones allowing you to make a little money in the process. You can use major search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing to find companies that specialise in purchasing and recycling or refurbishing old mobile phones.
Most of these companies will include lists of phone models that they purchase on their web sites. If you have a phone on the list, you complete an online form to request a purchase. The company then sends a special padded envelope for you to send in your mobile phone. Once the phone is checked to make sure it is still in satisfactory condition, the buyer will promptly send you the payment.
In addition to selling your mobile phone, you can also donate the phone to worthy causes. Many charities, manufacturers, community organisations, retailers and network carriers accept old mobile phones for recycling programs. Old mobile phones may be refurbished and provided to low income or other needy communities. In many cases, you will not have to worry about your private data either as facilities are provided that allow you to erase all personal information from your old phone.
SIM Only Deals
Even greener than recycling your phone is keeping you existing mobile phone which you can do with SIM only deals. SIM only deals work by keeping your existing phone and moving to a new tariff (which is usually much cheaper as there is no expense of a new handset bumping up the monthly price) by inserting a new SIM card in to your mobile phone and keep your existing phone number and.
Using a green mobile phone
Another way to help protect the environment with your electronic gadgets is use a eco-friendly mobile phones, computers and other electronic devices.
For example, T-Mobile’s MOTO W233 Renew is made entirely from recycled water bottle material. Motorola, the Renew’s manufacturer, claims this is the world’ first carbon neutral phone. Samsung offers the Reclaim phone that is made of 80 percent recyclable material in addition to using organic materials and packaging.
The Samsung Blue Earth S7550, like the MOTO W233 Renew, is also made of recycled water bottle plastic and, in addition, is equipped with solar mobiles. The German company Puma also offers a mobile phone that can be charged with solar energy and that features an eco-metering system that lets users know how much energy they are saving.
Green applications
A wide range of green apps are available that can help you reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable planet. For example, there are apps that you can use to monitor your home’s electricity usage and remotely control thermostats, lights, security systems, and other devices in your home from your mobile phone.