My excitement for upgrading my old phone to a shiny new iPhone 3G reminds me of the opportunity for cell phone recycling and donation. There are a number of ways cell phone users can accommodate reduce, reuse, and recycle practices.

A few years ago, I was at a friend’s party. I asked for some gum. They opened the drawer in their kitchen and pulled out a pack for me. I wasn’t amazed at the gum’s minty freshness, but rather the small evolutionary depiction of various cell phone models that lay in his drawer. I went home and realized that I also had a few cell phones collecting dust (even a bag phone — I know, I know). I made the decision to hold off on upgrading for a few years. My old phone served its purpose well. I have replaced the glass on the front, patiently watched technology transform from new to old, and dealt with scratches, scuffs, and dwindling battery stamina. Nevertheless, it’s still worthy of recycling.

Each month, Americans throw away millions of “old” cell phones and batteries that find their way to the landfill.  That is bad news when you think of the cumulative effect of toxins that leech into the environment from cell phones and their batteries alone. Only a small percentage is recycled.

Did you know? Some groups provide analog NSI (non-service initialized) cell phones to those in need. These can make outbound 911 calls even though they aren’t tied to a service, provider, or number. It’s an FCC requirement.

The great news: there are a number of ways to recycle your old cell phone. Some companies even give you money when doing so. The amount you receive depends on the company, the type of phone, and its age. Other resources for recycling include cell phone manufactures, your local recycling center, and even local churches and schools have collections every now and then. You can find your nearest drop off location by checking out the call2recycle program.

Just be sure to remove any personal information (i.e., phone numbers, addresses, text history, etc.) before recycling or donating the phone.