Earlier this month, I decided to finally do something about the old cell phone I’ve had lying around for far too long. Why has it been lying around for so long? Because 1) when I got my new phone, this one was too old to be worth any trade-in value and 2) my service provider said it didn’t have a recycling or donation program for old phones. So, I decided to hold on to it until I could figure out how to either find a new home for it or dispose of it without harming the environment.
After searching the web for options, I came across an organization called Secure the Call, which collects old cell phones for either donation or recycling. I was excited to find this organization because it achieves both of my goals. It helps people and it helps the Earth. Here’s what I learned about the organization and the work it does.
How Secure the Call Helps the Earth
Secure the Call explains it was started in part in an effort to keep old cell phones out of landfills. This is because electronic waste takes up space in landfills, does not biodegrade, and releases toxic materials into the environment. Secure the Call notes that when it collects old cell phones, any unusable phones go to a recycler in order to keep them out of landfills.
According to the United Nations, electronic waste is a global problem affecting the economy, people’s health, and the environment. It’s a global economic problem because due to electronic waste, items worth $62.5 billion are discarded, representing the misuse of more than the gross domestic product of many countries. Electronic waste is also a global health problem that exposes people to mercury, lead, and cadmium as these toxic materials leach from landfills and end up in groundwater and soils, eventually affecting food and drinking supplies. Finally, electronic waste is a global environmental problem as reusable gold, platinum, cobalt, and other scarce elements are discarded rather than reused, threatening their future supply.
How Secure the Call Helps People
As if the benefits to the Earth provided by Secure the Call aren’t enough, the organization also helps people by donating phones to those in need. A fact sheet I received after donating my phone to Secure the Call notes that the organization was established in 2003. Since that time, it’s been repurposing old phones by providing them to people who need the phones to make emergency calls.
Did you know all cell phones must be able to dial and connect to 911 services, even without an active phone plan? According to the fact sheet I received from Secure the Call, that’s why most network providers charge everyone with a plan a small tax of 50-75 cents each month to cover 911 access. The small fee paid by everyone with a plan allows those without plans to be able to make these lifesaving calls. Secure the Call helps provide the phones that make these emergency calls possible.
Some of the people who receive cell phones from organizations that partner with Secure the Call are senior citizens who might not be able to afford phone plans. Others are victims of domestic violence. People seen in a medical facility due to injuries from domestic violence or those seeking shelter from domestic violence can be given phones so that in the future, if they find themselves in a similar situation, they can make a call to 911.
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| Old cell phones help domestic violence victims. (Secure the Call/Neal Holtz) |
Recently, Secure the Call has been partnering with hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients admitted to the hospital these days are generally not allowed visitors due to the health risks of spreading the disease. By providing wi-fi enabled phones, Secure the Call allows these patients to connect with their loved ones.
How to Donate Your Phone
Contact information for Secure the Call is on its website. Before donating, I gave them a call and talked to a volunteer. He told me that even old style flip phones can still be useful, so if you have a really old phone like I did, you can rest assured that it will either be put to good use by those who need to call 911, or it will be recycled to avoid harming the environment.
The organization provides mailing labels on its website that you can use when sending your phone. Two labels are provided, one that can be used if you’re willing to pay the postage, and one you can use if you can’t afford the shipping (the cost will be paid by Secure the Call upon receipt). My cost to ship my phone was about $8, an amount I thought was a small price to pay to either help the Earth or help people in need.