# Old cell phones
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-cell-phones/167579
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 9, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-cell-phones/167579 "2003-04-09T16:50:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@yoyo3500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyo3500)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-cell-phones/167579/1 "2003-04-09T16:50:57Z")
Any suggestions what I should do with a couple of old cell phones? They’re both about 3 to 4 years old from defunct cell phone accounts (one AT&T, the other Bell Atlantic), and I have a new one, so they’re probably worthless… Any chance I could sell them anywhere (probably not). If I toss them, where should they go so as not to be an environmental hazard? Is there any value in keeping them?
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### Author:  [@keithnmick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keithnmick)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-cell-phones/167579/2 "2003-04-09T16:59:57Z")
They might be worth a leeetle bit of money one day. I kind of doubt it.
Cellphones with no plan can still call 911. You might want to keep them for this, and I know there are charitable groups that will take your old cellphones for precisely this reason.
When I got my latest spanky new cellphone I had to send them an old one to get a $100 rebate.
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### Author:  [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-cell-phones/167579/3 "2003-04-09T17:02:24Z")
Many charities will accept used cell phones. [Here](http://www.thewirelesssource.com/charitable.asp) is one link. Google has others.
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### Author:  [@zztzed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zztzed)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-cell-phones/167579/4 "2003-04-09T17:10:01Z")
As keithnmick and Fat Bald Guy said, there are charities that collect old cellphones, mainly for victims of domestic violence and such. One such charity is the Wireless Foundation’s [Call to Protect](http://www.wirelessfoundation.org/CalltoProtect/index.cfm). The Wireless Foundation also has a [Donate a Phone](http://www.wirelessfoundation.org/DonateaPhone/index.cfm) program that resells and recycles used phones. Either of these would probably be easier than finding a place that properly disposes of old electronics. And hey, you’ll be helping someone else out in the process.