Home & Garden

How to Recycle a Cell Phone in Greater Philly

Don't throw that old cell phone away.

Patch users across the Philadelphia area have shown increasing interest in how to recycle or safely dispose of any number of household items. So we've put together a series of resources for you and your neighbors. If we miss any item you want to know how to properly dispose of or recycle, please let us know in the comments.

For those looking to safely get rid of an old or unwanted cell phone in the Greater Philly, there are a number of recycling options.

Bring It In

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The following stores offer varying recycling programs for old cell phones and accessories.

  • AT&T accepts phones and accessories of any make or manufacturer at its stores. The company also provided postage for mail-back services.
    • Narberth AT&T
    • Radnor AT&T
    • Media AT&T
    • Broomall AT&T
    • Roxborough AT&T

  • Verizon accepts phones and phone batteries at its locations.
    • Roxborough Verizon
    • Ardmore Verizon
    • Media Verizon
    • Tredyffrin-Easttown Verizon
       
  • Best Buy: Area Best Buys will accept three computer items per day. Check the following locations for recycling:
  • Office Depot: Office Depot accepts cell phones that are not cracked or covered in liquid. Customers must purchase special recycling boxes from the store (between $5 and $15, depending on size) to dispose of items.
  • Staples: Staples locations will recycle cell phones.
    • Narberth Staples
    • Bryn Mawr Staples
    • Havertown Staples
    • Villanova Staples
    • Roxborough Staples
    • Chestnut Hill Staples

Check the Manufacturer

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Many computer and electronic manufactures offer take-back and recycling programs to allow consumers to return their products safely.

The following phone manufactures offer mail-back programs for their products:

Let the County Handle It

  • Chester County is holding an electronic recycling event on June 1, 2013. The event, which will be held at the West Goshen Municipal Complex, 1025 Paoli Pike, will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Get more information on it here.

  • Philadelphia County holds several events throughout the year for collecting household hazardous waste, including cell phones. Check the schedule here. Residents can also drop their computers off at the Northwest Philadelphia sanitation station on Domino Lane.

  • Old cell phones can be brought to Lower Merion Township’s recycling center at the Koegel Public Works Complex in Penn Valley. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Contact the center by calling 610-667-1952 or emailing recycle@lowermerion.org.

There are also a lot of organizations that reuse or recycle cellphones for charitable purposes. If you have an organization you think does this well, please share it in the comments below.


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