Kyocera partnered with SecondWave Recycling to turn your phones, whether they work or not, into paid calling time for deployed soldiers. The calling time is handed out through Cell Phones for Soldiers, which provides free long-distance calling cards for soldiers. For every four phones recycled, Cell Phones for Soldiers will receive $1.
“By partnering with SecondWave Recycling, Kyocera is able to take action to protect our planet while also raising funds to keep our veterans and active-duty military connected to their families through the fantastic nonprofit Cell Phones for Soldiers,” said Kyocera senior vice president and general manager of global sales and marketing Eric Anderson.
Shipping costs are all paid for, with Kyocera even sending you a shipping container if you don’t have one nearby. You can print your shipping label through Kyocera’s website if you have some old phones lying around.
For those looking to recycle other stuff, there are many options for safely disposing of gadgets and electronics.
- The Greener Gadgets site operated by the Consumer Electronics Association lets you search for recycling and disposal services by ZIP code. They only cover nationwide efforts in the U.S., but that includes major retail chains like Staples and Best Buy (most of which will accept a wide variety of items), so it can be a great resource for finding recycling locations in a hurry — like when you’re moving.
- Earth911’s search feature lists both nationwide and local recycling locations by city name or ZIP code, along with what products they accept. Search results are not just limited to electronics, so you can find places that’ll take toner cartridges, lead-acid batteries, metal, appliances, and even plastic bags.
- E-cycling Central lists electronics recyclers and refurbishers by state, but also includes some local non-profits that can take electronics off your hands and help out the less fortunate.
Many municipalities and counties have partnered with private companies to set up electronics disposal or recycling services. There may be a fee for recycling some items, like CRT monitors or televisions, but sometimes the service is part of your utility bill, and many places waive fees during periodic recycling drives.
