Sell Cell Phones in California

We can still recycle cell phones even at the end of their life. Because of fast technological developments, low cost and planned obsolescence of electronic products, surplus has become fast-growing, contributing to the large amount of electronic waste. In the U.S., about 70% of heavy metals found in landfills are from discarded electronics, which represents about 2% of America’s overall waste in landfills.

Although many Americans recycle, about 7% still throw away their old or broken cell phones. One reason iPhones are tossed is because soldering the iPhone battery makes the device itself hard to be recycled. The problem with this is Scientists have found toxic phthalates on the cables. This comes in conflict with Proposition 65 of California. Proposition 65 requires warning labels on products with phthalates. This prompted California to consider the iPhone and other cell phones “hazardous waste” because there are many chemicals in cell phones that can leach from landfills into the groundwater system.

Sadly, we don’t have a national law against toxic waste. The U.S. government has not yet ratified the Basel Convention or the Ban Amendment. There are, however, domestic laws that forbid the export of toxic waste. Unfortunately, this leads to about 80% of the electronic waste not being recycled at all. Certain electronics that are not considered toxic are instead put into container ships and sent to other countries like China. Countries like China and India have electronic waste processing areas.

E-Recycling Laws in California

California enacted a groundbreaking law that requires electronic waste recovery and created a recycling program that was based on the Product Stewardship Initiative of the European Economic Union. This law was signed on January 1, 2005. The goal of this act (called SB 20, Electronic Waste Recycling Act) is to provide cost-free recycling chances for consumers, to prevent stockpiling, illegal dumping of electronic waste, and to reduce hazardous materials that enter the city’s solid waste (MSW) stream.

In 2005, California generated about 140,000 tons of covered electronic devices (CEDs), with about 60 million pounds of this waste taken back for recycling through the program. More than 135 million pounds of devices were recycled in 2007, and there was an increase in 2008, when about 214 million pounds of devices were recycled. The recycling rate for covered electronics was 58% in 2008. This doubled the 29% recovery rate in 2006.

Another Californian law, called AB 2901, focuses on cell phone take-back and recycling. It requires most of California’s largest cell phone retailers to have take-back or recycling programs and collect used phones at no cost to the consumer. Retailers must reuse, recycle or properly dispose of these phones. According to the Department of Toxic Substances Control, there are about 18 million cell phones sold in California in 2010. Only 2.7 million were recycled with a recycling rate of 21%. This percentage is up from 2007, which had a 17% recycling rate. This added to the national recycling rate during that time, which was 10%.

Another act, called the AB 1225, was modeled after the AB 2901. It uses the same take-back concept of the cell phone act. This act requires all retailers that sell rechargeable batteries to accept back used batteries at no cost to the consumer. It creates convenience and incentive for consumers. It offers easy drop-off at locations in California. It requires retailers to recycle these batteries, and even cell phones. In 2009, about 8 million pounds of rechargeable batteries were collected for recycling.

Conclusion

California is one of the progressive states that think about electronic waste reduction. The state has contributed to the national reduction of the number of smartphones dumped in landfills. If these acts are not enough, there are other options that allow you to help save the environment. There are online refurbishment websites, like CashforSmartphones, that buy back old or broken smartphones. These companies reuse and recycle smartphones so that they will not go to landfills. Sell or recycle smartphones now and save Mother Nature!

The Californians have early developed their psyche on environmental safety by passing the first e-waste law in the United States. Authorized in 2003, the E-waste law of CALIFORNIA stipulates the required Advance Recycling Fee of $6 to $10 charge at the point of sale on video display services.

Parallel to the recycling schemes of other states, California has likewise adopted a funding system for the collection and recycling of electronic wastes. Its electronic product management legislation is regulated by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery or (Cal Recycle) which then implements some portion of the statute.

The salient points of the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 are as follows:

Reduction of poisonous substances used in the manufacturing of certain electronic products in California
Collection of required fees at the point of sale of certain electronics
Allocation and distribution of necessary funds to various qualified entities that cover the cost of waste collection and recycling
Instructions of recommending environmentally-driven standards for state agency purchases of electronic equipment.

Hundreds of thousands of electronic items like computers, laptops, TVs, and cellphones are replaced in California every year. These e-wastes contain materials that can be harmful if not disposed of properly. If people in California cooperate with manufacturers, retailers, and the government, we can help protect the environment and create new jobs in the state.

Or better yet, Californians can sell their used, old, or non-working smartphones to Cash for Smartphones. With a superb online service that can guarantee smartphone sellers a quote worthy of their units, they can always look at the brighter side of technology. This means easy cash at the cost of a noble act- and that is letting Cash for Smartphone refurbish and recycle their old contraptions.