With new wireless devices continuously being introduced, chances are most people have an old wireless device lying around the house. In recognition of Earth Day, April 22, AT&T is reminding wireless users to recycle their old cell phones. Through the AT&T Trade-in Program, consumers are invited to bring unwanted wireless phones, accessories and batteries (regardless of the manufacturer or carrier) to AT&T-owned stores for recycling.
Here’s how the trade-in program works:
- Customers turn in old wireless phones and tablets and receive a trade-in value for their qualified device.
- The trade-in value is used instantly for other in-store purchases, AT&T service or a bill payment, OR
- Customers can donate the value of their trade-in to Cell Phones for Soldiers, a nonprofit that uses the proceeds from cellphone recycling to purchase prepaid calling cards for soldiers serving overseas.[ad id=”2764″]
Before recycling a wireless device, remember to:
- Turn off power
- Remove your phone’s SIM card, if it has one
- Erase your address book, photos, messages and other stored information
- Restore the device factory settings on your device
- For instructions on how to do this, go to owner’s manual or on the manufacturers’ web site and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for deleting all personal information on your wireless device, OR access Erase Your Data (https://recycle.tradein-program.com/erase.php5?c=en-gb ) for additional assistance on clearing data from your device.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for every million cell phones we recycle, 35 thousand pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered. In addition, recycling electronic devices also reduces the amount of e-waste sent to our landfills, according to the EPA.
