What do you do with your old smartphone when you have replaced it with a shiny new device?
Do you tuck it away in your bottom drawer to gather dust? Do you throw it away? Or do you put it to good use?
On average, most people change their smartphone every two years. When you consider the fact that 3.5 billion people on this planet have smartphones, the number of smartphones that have been produced, and will be produced in the coming years is massive.
Companies like Plunc work well for selling Apple products and other devices you no longer use from the convenience of your home, allowing you to recoup some cash
It all adds up to a serious impact on the environment.
So, what can you do to make sure you’re old smartphone goes to good use instead of being thrown away?
Sell Your Phone
One thing that you can do with your old iPhone is to sell it. Apple phones are always going to be very desirable and you can often get a good percentage of the original cost in return.
You could opt to sell your smartphone on a selling site like eBay, or via a group on Facebook. But you are not guaranteed a sale, and it can take time to even find a buyer.
One of the quickest and most straightforward ways to sell your old iphone is to sell it directly to a company that buys old phones. You’ll get a fair rate and a quick and easy sale.
The price you earn will depend on factors such as the make, model, age, condition, and whether you have all of the accessories.
Pass Your Phone Onto Someone You Know
If you have a friend or a family member in need of a phone, why not give them your old phone? It will save them money, and it will save your old phone from ending up on the scrapheap when it still has some life in it.
Before you give it away, make sure you have cleared off any photos and files that you may want to keep. Carry out a full factory reset on the phone too, as this will remove all of the valuable and sensitive details that you may have saved in it such as passwords and bank details.
Donate Your Phone
Why not put your old phone to good use and donate it.
You can either give it to a charity that can put your old technology into the hands of those that need it most, either in this country or in a developing area of the world. Or, you could donate your phone to a charity shop that will be able to resell it and do something with the money they make from it.
By doing this, you will not only be minimizing the impact that you are having on the environment, but you will be doing some good for those that need it the most.
Minimize Your Environmental Impact
Whatever you decide to do with your phone, remember that you need to be conscious of your environmental impact. If your phone no longer works and can’t be repaired, make sure you send it for recycling rather than just throwing it away.