By Dawn Schuett

Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN 

Even if an old cell phone has placed its last call, sent its last text or played its last song, it doesn't have to end up in the garbage.

Cell phone recycling programs are increasingly popular and offered through retailers, municipalities and nonprofit organizations.

Jack Stansfield, waste communications coordinator for Olmsted County Public Works, said many people are aware that programs exist to recycle cell phones, but "they don't always know where to take them."

"Before just throwing it away, try and investigate those options," Stansfield said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates only 10 percent of cell phones are recycled each year. In 2008, the EPA launched a national program, Plug-In To eCycling, in partnership with cell phone manufacturers, service providers and retailers to promote the recycling, refurbishing and reusing of cell phones and accessories. About 100 million cell phones are no longer in use and recycling all of them would save enough energy to supply electricity for a year to more than 19,500 U.S. households, according to the EPA.

Locally, the Olmsted County Hazardous Waste Facility, 305 Silver Creek Road N.E., Rochester, is a drop-off site for old cell phones that are later shipped to a company that recycles rechargeable batteries. Cell phones brought in with chargers are saved for the victim services program and given to those who might need a phone to call 911 in an emergency.

Other cell phone recycling programs are fundraisers for nonprofits such as Cell Phones for Soldiers. The organization, based in Massachusetts, collects cell phones at more than 3,000 locations across the country, including several in Rochester. The donated phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each phone. The nonprofit uses the funds for prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops deployed overseas.

Schools can also benefit from cell phone recycling programs. Rochester Central Lutheran School accepts donations of cell phones and laser and ink cartridges, and ships them to Green School Project in Pennsylvania for recycling. The school receives $50 for each cell phone accepted by Green School Project.

Principal Henry Pahlkotter said the cell phone recycling program at RCLS is new this school year, but the recycling of other items such as paper and aluminum cans has been done at the school for a long time.

"We want to be good stewards of what God has given us," Pahlkotter said. "Recycling is naturally part of what we do."

Still more recycling programs, like those online at www.cellforcash.com and www.gazelle.com, buy old cell phones and other electronics directly from individuals.

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