Don't trash that old cell phone

Sep 05, 2008 (The Florida Times-Union - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX) -- VZ | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Sep. 5--In today's age of personal electronics, the newest cell phone makes last year's -- or even last month's -- version obsolete and unhip.

Most cell phone users get a new phone when they sign on to a service plan and then replace it 21 months later when the typical two-year plan allows an upgrade, said Mark Thomas, a Jacksonville Verizon Wireless retailer.

Edmond, Okla.-based PaceButler Corp., which collects used cell phones through schools and charitable organizations and donates $1 to $50 back to those organizations, estimates that 130 million cell phones are cast aside each year and that most American households harbor five or six old cell phones. It's one of numerous companies nationwide attempting to coax those phones out of kitchen drawers, closets, garages and attics.

Many say they're collecting them for recycling, keeping hazardous substances out of landfills. Some offer cash for phones that are still valuable -- typically less than two years old. Others convert the phones into drones that make free emergency calls and then donate them to organizations that support victims of domestic violence, the elderly and others. Some, like PaceButler, resell collected phones in bulk.

Matthew Hunt, manager of Goin' Postal at 7643 Gate Parkway, said his store and others in the mailing service chain have collection boxes for Cell Phones for Soldiers, which sells collected phones and uses the proceeds to purchase and send prepaid 60-minute calling cards to U.S. soldiers stationed overseas.

When Hunt sends packages to soldiers, he asks senders if he can toss in one or more of the calling cards, courtesy of the business. "That's a good way to give back to the community," he said.

People interested in cashing in old phones have various options. As of Thursday, Ocala-based CellForCash quoted on its Web site that older Apple iPhones are worth $249 for the 16-gigabyte model, $199 for the 8-gigabyte version and $122 for a 4 gigabyte phone. The Samsung SGHI600 was worth $100; the Motorola RAZR2 V8, $90; the Nokia N91, $123; the Blackberry 8820, $68; the Danger SideKick LX, $91; the HP HW6900 and HW6510, $90; the HTC P4000, $105 and the HTC Advantage, $120.

Most of the phone models listed on the CellForCash Web site are worth less or nothing. But the company will accept the worthless ones for recycling through its nonprofit sister company, 911 Cell Phone Bank. That company collects old phones through participating law enforcement, government emergency management or victim services organizations, donating 50 cents for each one to the charitable organizations that collected the phones, 911 Cell Phone Bank national program manager Linda Zimmerman said.

The program converts the phones into emergency devices capable only of dialing 911 or "operator" and donates them to elderly and victim services agencies.

"We send out 2,100-plus a month," Zimmerman said.

April Griffin, office manager of Jacksonville domestic violence shelter Hubbard House, said that organization participates in Shelter Alliance, a Miramar-based program that also converts phones into emergency devices, and pays varying amounts for collected phones. The organization then donates them back to Hubbard House and other organizations.

Hubbard House Chief Executive Officer Ellen Siler said those phones can be lifesavers.

"Imagine being stalked, having your kids with you, and you're terrified. You can call 911. It saves lives, but we'll never know how many lives it saves, because it will change what the person [abuser] does," she said.

Siler said recent phone donations have increased dramatically and Bank of America has committed to donate all of its discarded cell phones to Hubbard House.

Experts say before any old cell phones are donated, recycled or sold, they should first be wiped clean of all personal data.

Sean Ashmore, manager of 10,000 Cellphones at 8036 Philips Highway, said that varies from phone to phone. Most have a SIM card that identifies the user, the phone network and stores names, phone numbers and frequent calls, he said. But removing the SIM card doesn't ensure the phone is cleared because many phones store pictures, videos, memos and other personal information in a different place, he said.

"If it's not wiped, someone might get some nice information off that," he said.

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