Mobile phone or cell phone recycling describes the waste management of mobile phones, to retrieve materials used in their manufacture. Mobile phones offering only basic capabilities are known as feature phones, whereas mobile phones that offer greatly advanced computing capabilities are referred to as smartphones.
Most cell phones contain precious metals and plastics that can be recycled to save energy and resources that would otherwise be required to mine or manufacture. When placed in a landfill, these materials can pollute the air and contaminate soil and drinking water. Cell phones that are discarded informally may be taking a toll on the environment.
A cell phone’s shelf life is only about 24 months for the average user. This means that newer cell phone models are constantly put up on the market to replace older ones. This is a result of the rapid progression of technology in the mobile industry.
Mobile phones have a rich and complex composition for recycling. In one ton of cellphones, there are 3,573 grams of silver (Ag), 368 grams of gold (Au) and 287 grams of palladium (Pd). Mobile phones typically contain the following components: printed circuit board (PCB), liquid crystal display (LCD), camera, flexible substrate and motor, and speaker and microphone. These components are made from hazardous, precious and base elements.
Electronic waste like obsolete cell phone is a global problem. Oftentimes, the e-waste is improperly dismantled and burned, producing toxic emissions harmful to waste site workers, children and nearby communities. Therefore, it is important for cell phone users to dispose of and recycle their devices responsibly and ethically.
