- Of the more than one billion cell phones that are currently used worldwide, an estimated 250 to 300 million are being used in the US.
- The average American cell phone user owns 3 or more handsets.
- The average US consumer only uses their current cell phone for 12 to 18 months.
- Over 70% of Americans do not know that they can recycle their old cell phone.
- In a recent survey, only 2.3% of Americans recycled their old cell phones and 7% threw them in the garbage.
- Cell phones contain precious metals such as gold and silver.
- A total of 500 million used cell phones weighing more than 250,000 tons are estimated to be currently stockpiled, awaiting disposal.
- Cell phones contain numerous substances which need to be disposed of in safe and efficient manner:
The Cadmium in the battery from a single old phone could seriously contaminate 600,000 litres of water, enough to fill a third of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Cadmium is being phased out of new batteries.
Lead - which affects the immune, endocrine and central nervous systems, and causes serious damage to children's brains - is used to solder components to the printed wiring boards.
Brominated flame retardants, used in wiring boards and plastic cases, have been associated with cancer, liver damage and problems with the neurological, immune and endocrine systems.
Beryllium, which can cause serious lung damage, is used in contacts and springs and highly toxic dioxins can be emitted if the phones are incinerated in waste plants.
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