If you find yourself in possession of a phone that no longer works, it is not a good idea simply to throw it in the bin. Mobile batteries might leak chemicals into the soils, and many of the components of the handset itself can be recycled efficiently.
In order to ensure you are not damaging the environment when you get rid of your phone, it is a good idea to take it to a recycling depot. From here it will be disposed of correctly so that none of its constituent parts go to waste or do ecological damage.
It is also often useful, before you decide to part with the handset, to check that it is indeed thoroughly broken with no hope of revival. Ask yourself if it might not be possible for someone to continue to use the mobile in conjunction with one of the SIM Only Deals that are available today.
If you find that you think the mobile is salvageable, then don't recycle it. Instead, do some research into organisations which collect old but functional phones and hand them out to people who need them. Often, these second hand charity phones are given to poor communities, or to senior citizens who do not own a handset and who aren't keen to navigate the maze of technology that characterises most new phones.
Before you decide to get rid of your phone, think very hard. It might be the case that the handset is still functional, in which case donate it to a charity. If the phone is completely broken, however, make sure you dispose of it in a way that is ecologically sound.
