?Number of cell phones globally

In excess of 6.9 billion

?Global electronics waste generated

In excess of 6.9 billion

?Mobile phone time before replacement (U.S)

2.4 years (2020)

?Ways to reuse an old mobile phone

Alarm clock

Security camera

Baby monitor

Reading device

Donate

Media player

?Many cell phone providers recycle phones

In excess of 6.9 billion

?Landlines are on their way out

In 2019, only 59.7% of US households had landlines. 63% of Canadian households have a landline (2017 data).

?Heaps of phones are being tossed out

In excess of 6.9 billion

?Right to repair

Manufacturers make it difficult to repair devices like mobile phones. However, the right to repair movement is growing. A great resource for thousands of manuals and guides on repairing a wide variety of mobile phones and electronic devices is iFixit.

?Recycling creates jobs

Recycling creates skilled jobs and creates opportunities for communities around the world.

?Number of cell phones globally

Just because an electronic device is used doesn’t mean that it isn’t any good. Devices can be reused and sent overseas to provide low-cost access to technology.

?Donated smartphones can help people with sight disabilities

Instead of letting smartphones gather dust, organizations like the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) accept smartphone donations. These phones are given to those with vision disabilities who don’t have access to smartphones. These phones can help them to do tasks like take their medication safely, recognize faces, find their way through unfamiliar places, or even read greeting cards.

?E-waste is valuable

The value of the raw materials contained in e-waste in 2019 was estimated to be worth about $57 billion USD. In the News