Only a Very Small Percentage of Retired Phones are Recycled
While the huge number of retired phones continues to grow and the demand for refurbished phones is accelerating, only a very small percentage of displaced phones are actually making it into the recycling channels.
Nokia estimates that 74 percent of people are not even aware that their old phones can be recycled and most others don’t know how or where to recycle them. From the results of a worldwide survey done in 2008 by Nokia, only three percent of displaced phones are being returned for recycling – even less than the four percent that are being thrown in landfills. The rest remain in our respective drawers at home.
So Where Can They be Recycled?
The first thing you should attempt to do is to clear your mobile phone of all data and get it back to its original state. If you still have the manual you can easily find how to do it. If you do not , you will have to scroll through the set-up and or mechanical menus to find the option to do this. Another method that I recently did to clear my Blackberry of data before selling it on eBay, was to search the internet via your favorite browser search engine with “erase data on XXXX” where XXXX is the manufacturer and model on your phone. This popped up a number of sites to assist me through the process. While also doing a search, key in “cell phone recycling” to get a list of places to either resell, donate or eco dispose of it.
This a small listing of many you will find if you search the Internet as mentioned above. Many of the large office supply chain stores also offer drop boxes as well as many of the cellular phone providers either at their retail locations or via programs on their websites. The bottom line is to get rid of the old ones cluttering your draw to save some space, make a few bucks or to donate to the less fortunate. Don’t delay do it today!
Petra Solar designs and manufactures the first smart grid interactive solar electric system specifically designed for installation on utility distribution poles, Utility Grade SunWave™ UP Series. The systems, which operate as individual power generation stations, combine solar power, smart grid and power management technologies to enable utilities to improve power quality and grid management. Petra Solar’s systems operate on streetlight and utility poles, connecting directly to the grid’s secondary voltage lines at the pole.
Last July the N.J. Board of Public Utilities approved a contract between Petra Solar and New Jersey’s largest utility, PSE&G, to generate 40MW of power through SunWave solar systems installed on up to 200,000 poles in New Jersey. The intelligent photovoltaic solar units are currently being installed throughout the state’s six largest cities and 300 suburban communities and will be running on the AT&T wireless network. For more information see Petra Solar.
Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies recently announced the launch of a disruptive pocket-size fuel cell power plant targeting portable consumer electronics markets. Named MiniPak, this is the first of several Horizon portable fuel cell power products of varying size and fuel storage technologies to be released commercially over the next months and years.
Starting sales at $99, the MiniPak breaks the cost barrier traditionally associated to most fuel cell devices, making it the first affordable and refillable fuel cell product to enter the consumer portable electronics market. A higher production levels, prices are expected to drop to $29, with extra fuel cartridges sold at prices similar to disposable alkaline batteries, and refilling costs not exceeding a few cents.
It is a palm-size universal portable power charger and power extender for ANY electronic device requiring up to 2W of power. Devices compatible with the MiniPak include cellphones, but also smartphones, gaming devices, GPS handhelds, small lighting devices and MP3 players. The MiniPAK device integrates a passive air-breathing fuel cell and a “solid-state” hydrogen storage unit. The MiniPak DC power output is 2W (5V, 400mA), delivered through standard micro-USB port and a multi-choice cable. The device is supplied with 2 refillable and ready to use solid state hydrogen cartridge.While a cartridge replacement and filling infrastructure develops, Horizon took the extra step to develop a home refueling system called “HydroFILL” – sold as a separate accessory for added convenience. The MiniPAK is positioned to address gaps in providing energy “on the go” to power-hungry device users, as well as a low cost energy storage option for emergency and long duration off-grid power users.
Yogen Universal Mobile-device Charger will charge your mobile device with only a few minutes of pull/release time. They have versions for iPods, iPhones, MP3 players, Cameras, Navigation GPS and many more devices. It is really good for travel, hiking, camping, loss of power emergencies, etc. Great to keep one in your car’s glove box or emergency kit. Yogen Charger
Nokia has announced a bike kit that allows users to charge their phones when cycling, according to the mobile phone manufacturer. Install the kit straight out of the packet, then you provide the power, so using your phone will have no environmental impact. You can even listen to music from your phone’s speakers as you cycle.
The kit consists of a charger and a dynamo, as well as a holder to secure the phone to the bike. The dynamo, a small electrical generator, similar to one used to power a bike light, uses the movement of the wheels to charge the handset through a standard 2 millimeter jack, which is found in most Nokia mobile phones, the company said. It starts charging when the bicycle speed is 4 mph or greater. To reach the same efficiency as the electrically powered Compact Charger AC-3, the cyclist has to pedal at 7.5 mph, according the Nokia specification sheet.
By using pedal power to charge mobile phones it allows users who have limited access to electricity the capability to charge their phones, and it also gives everyone the chance to be more environmentally responsible, according to the Nokia spokesperson. The bicycle charger kit will be available by the end of the year, and is expected to cost around $18.
Mobile phone users probably don’t know it, but a charger left plugged into a wall wastes electricity – enough to power 24,000 homes for a year, or brew three to four million cups of coffee each day. The new AT&T ZERO Charger, available in May, does not waste power when left plugged in, and also improves charging efficiency when powering a device.
The AT&T ZERO Charger will also make life easier for customers, with a ‘block and cable’ design for maximum interchangeability, allowing them to use the same charger for future handsets and will, over time, cut the number of chargers produced, thus reducing future landfill waste.
The charger works by automatically sensing when a mobile phone is not plugged in to the charger thus cutting the power supply from the wall socket. The charger will be sold in packaging using 100% recycled paper as AT&T recently announced a transition to smaller and more eco-friendly packaging for the wireless device accessories sold in their stores. The change will eliminate more than 60 percent of the paper and more than 30 percent of the plastic previously used for their products. A big GREEN thumbs up for doing this!
The ZERO charger will be available starting in May at AT&T retail locations nationwide or at www.wireless.att.com. For more information on the ZERO charger, visit www.att.com/ZERO.
Turn free sunlight into clean electricity without moving parts, heat or sound. This Juice Bag has and incredible 7 Watt flexible solar panel made up of 52 solar cells and represents the latest in flexible solar technology. And, while no small solar power device of this size puts out enough power to charge a laptop directly there is plenty enough to power your cell phone or small electronic device like a GPS or MP3 Player.
The Juice Bag comes with a built-in Car Lighter Adapter (CLA) socket – the same universal plug that is used in your car. Just plug in the adapter you would normally use in the car that is approved for your phone, PDA, MP3 player or other 12volt device. The moment sunlight falls on the Juice Bags solar panel, the bag generates electricity. It is that easy and simple to use!
The product can be used by travelers, students, relief workers and many others for whom the freedom of clean, everywhere free energy is important. Imagine going anywhere…anywhere…in the world and being able to keep your satellite phone, GPS Unit or digital camera charged and most importantly it is MADE IN THE USA.
You can buy it directly at the Reware Store.
I recently came across this article that I thought would be of interest to you. It is not only a way to create less waste but many of these new chargers do not act as vampires of energy when they are plugged in and your phone is not attached. Little steps… Little steps… add up to big advances. Enjoy the reading… more yesteryear technologies soon to be posted.
One size fits all phone chargers on the way: ITU
FRANKFURT (Reuters) -
Ever forget your phone charger and no one around has the same kind of handset?
Have a drawer full of useless old phone chargers at home?
Breathe a sigh of relief.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations’ telecom arm, said on Thursday it had given its stamp of approval “to an energy-efficient one-charger-fits-all new mobile phone solution.
“Every mobile phone user will benefit from the new Universal Charging Solution (UCS), which enables the same charger to be used for all future handsets, regardless of make and model,” the ITU said in a statement.
“Some manufacturers are already incorporating the UCS in their devices,” an ITU spokesman said.
The association hopes a universal charger will help reduce waste by cutting down on the number of chargers produced and then thrown away with the purchase of a new handset.
There are already more than 4 billion mobile phone subscriptions around the world.
In June, top mobile phone suppliers such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson and other industry majors agreed to back an EU-wide harmonization of phone chargers, which means phones compatible with standard charging devices are available in Europe from next year.
The EU estimates unwanted phone accessories account for thousands of tons of waste in Europe each year.
Now, if only they could come up with a single plug.
(Reporting by Nicola Leske, Editing by Michael Shields and Dan Lalor)
A global renewable energy company, Helix Wind, announced this week it will begin a technology demonstration and test of two small wind turbines to power cell phone towers in Southern California.
The turbines will be installed by early 2010 and the test will run for one to three months.addition to powering the towers, the test will explore the feasibility of selling power back to the electrical grid under a Power Purchase Agreement. The test will represent one of the first grid- connected cell sites powered by renewable energy in Southern California.
This market segment is of great interest to California. There are approximately 3,500 cell phone towers in Southern California, and due to the continued expansion of broadband wireless, the data volume of which has doubled in the past three years, an additional 1,000 to 1,200 towers should be brought on line over the next five years.
Grid connected cell phone towers can benefit from renewable energy, and wind power can dramatically reduce the emissions and carbon footprint associated with them. Under the right conditions, the towers may even be able to produce surplus energy, providing an additional revenue stream to tower owners.
About Helix
Helix Wind Corp., a global renewable energy company, is engaged in the design, manufacturing and sale of small wind vertical axis turbine designed to generate 300W, 1kW, 2.0kW, 4.0kW, and 50kW of clean, renewable electricity.
Petra Solar designs and manufactures the first smart grid interactive solar electric system specifically designed for installation on utility distribution poles, Utility Grade SunWave™ UP Series. The systems, which operate as individual power generation stations, combine solar power, smart grid and power management technologies to enable utilities to improve power quality and grid management. Petra Solar’s systems operate on streetlight and utility poles, connecting directly to the grid’s secondary voltage lines at the pole.
