Phones and electronic gadgets make great holiday presents but what about the olds ones?
Local organizations gladly take the older models off your hands and out of your house to be reused and recycled. By donating your phone, you’re not just freeing your house of clutter, you’re helping those in need and helping the environment by not creating more electronic waste.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that Americans own nearly 3 billion electronic products. For each new product that comes along, one or more becomes outdated or obsolete. Consequently, we’re discarding (and storing) older electronic products faster than ever.
These discarded, surplus electronic devices are referred to as e-waste (electronic waste) and the incorrect processing of which create serious health and pollution problems.

Consumer Electronics Association reports that in 2005 alone, an estimated 304 million electronics (up to 2.2 million tons of waste) were removed from US households with about two-thirds of those still in working order.

These devices however can be used to do good.

“Donating phones decreases the carbon footprint, it helps the earth and it helps others. Cell phones donated to DAWN benefit women and families who are trying to break free from domestic abuse. You’re being a good and responsible citizen that way,” said Brenda Chrystie from Domestic Abuse Women’s Network.

There are two main options for a donated cell phone - reuse or recycling.

Phones that are in good working order but don’t hold market value, can be used as an emergency cell phone for women’s shelters, law enforcement and senior homes. Any cell phone in the US can dial 9-1-1, even without a SIM card or contract. These cell phones are often given to victims to enable them to reach emergency service if needed.

Local charities like DAWN and the Seattle Humane Society receive funds from donated cell phones. Good functioning phones which still holds a market value are sold and the proceeds will go towards the charity, other phones are refurbished and sold or recycled for parts.

“We cash in the donated phones to be recycled and the proceeds go to the services DAWN offers,” Chrystie said.

DAWN cashes in the donated phones and provides their clients with clean, untraceable phones instead.

“It’s a good income,” Chrystie said. “We’ve collected $3,500 from cell phones this year.”

The King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence (KCCADV) collects cell phones to exchange them for refurnished emergency cell phones

“We send them to a company that refurbishes and recycles phones and supplies non-violence agencies with phones and we get other phones in exchange,” said Allison Iser from KCCADV

Iser said the phones are wiped clean and refurbished before they’re reused.

“We really appreciate people making those kind of contributions because it really makes a difference,” Iser said.

Recycling cell phones costs less energy than creating new ones. At recycling facilities, phones get inspected and dissembled. Parts will be reused for new phones and unusable parts are shredded and smelted, and various metals are “reclaimed” back to their natural state.

The Seattle Humane Society generates a portion of their proceeds through cell phone recycling. The Seattle Human Society giving their donated cell phones to the Shelter Alliance, the largest cell phone recycling center in the U.S. which pays charities for the donated phones.

Please visit www.resourceventure.org to find a recycling center near you or check the list below for drop off options for various local charities.

Prior to donating or recycling your old cell phone, you should terminate your service, clear the phone’s memory of contacts and other stored information, and remove your SIM card.

Local charities that would appreciate your cell phone donation:

Domestic Abuse Women’s Network (DAWN), a domestic abuse advocacy and service organization collects phones at five drop off points at various HomeStreet Banks in the area. The addresses can be found at their website. Phones can also be mailed to P.O. Box 8807. Tukwila, WA 98138.

The Seattle Humane Society is a private, nonprofit animal welfare organization that serves the people and animals of King County with a variety of programs including adoptions, veterinary services, dog training classes, a pet food bank, and humane education for children of all ages. They ask that you drop off the phones at 13212 SE Eastgate Way in Bellevue, WA.

The King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence (KCCADV) works to end domestic violence by facilitating collective action for social change. They accept phones by schedules drop offs or via mail.
Call 206-568-5454 to schedule a drop off or mail them to 1419 S. Jackson St, #103. Seattle, WA 98144

Solid Ground is an organization that serves the poor and homeless population with housing, advocacy and various programs. Phones can be dropped off at 1501 N 45th St. in Wallingford.