Have you decided that it is time to update your tech and go for a new phone? It seems that we tend to upgrade our phones fairly regularly. Most mobile phone contracts are eligible for upgrades after two years, and most people will take up this option. After all, why wouldn’t you want a brand new, shiny mobile phone? However, you need to consider what you are going to do with the phone you won’t be using anymore, and that is why we have put this helpful and informative guide together.
Protecting yourself
There are two chief areas of concern when it comes to disposing of your current phone and buying a new one. The first thing you need to consider is your own personal safety. Issues like identity theft and credit card fraud are rife at the moment, and so it is critical to make sure that you do not allow your old phone to get into the wrong hands. We will provide a little bit of further information on this below and how to prepare your phone if you are going to give it to someone else. However, it is so critical to make sure you never hand your phone over to someone else without clearing everything off it first.
Protecting the environment
Not only do you need to think about disposing of your new phone in a manner that is safe for you, but you also need to consider the environment as well. Electronic waste is one of the most dangerous forms of waste. It can cause huge damage to the nature around us, as well as the human beings that live close to these landfills, a lot of which are in Africa. If you read up online about electronic waste landfills, it really does make pretty terrifying reading.
Recycling your phone
The first option that we would always recommend you consider is recycling your phone. If your phone still works, there is no reason why you should throw it in the bin. Someone else could get plenty of use from it. You may want to consider selling your phone on the likes of eBay, or there are dedicated companies established that will purchase old phones as well, so all of these options are worth looking into. Or, why not donate your old mobile phone to someone who is less fortunate than you?
Before you recycle your phone, though, make sure that you clear everything effectively. You will want to start off by reading this guide on how to transfer photos from iPhone to Mac. Once you have uploaded all of your documents and photos to the cloud so that they are safely stored, you can then wipe your phone. It is important to make sure that your phone is wiped to factory settings. The last thing you want is for someone to receive a phone that is filled with all of your private data. Identity theft is rife at the moment, so it is not being over-cautious to say that you need to be very careful.
When recycling your phone is not an option
If it is not possible for you to recycle your phone, for example, if it is broken, then you need to think about the other options that are available to you. There are a lot of companies that will offer to purchase your phone or take it off your hands because they will use the parts that are inside of it. If not, it is important to note that companies selling mobile phones and other gadgets should offer a take-back service. With this service, you should be able to give your phone to them and they will dispose of it in the most eco-friendly manner. Information like this should be available on the company website but, if it is not, simply drop the company an email to find out more.
Final words on what to do when you do not need your mobile phone anymore
All things considered, there is no denying that we all need to be more conscious about the world around us and how our actions impact it. This is definitely the case when it comes to disposing of electronic equipment we do not need anymore, like mobile phones. We hope that the information and advice that we have provided you with above will assist with this so you can dispose of your mobile phone in a safe and effective manner.
We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.
