Have an old cell phone lying around?

You know you do. You probably have more than one. Time Magazine reported that Americans change their cell phones every 18 months. And we don't want to throw them away. That goes against everything our mothers ever taught us about being wasteful.

It is estimated that there are 200 million used cell phones lying idle in America's drawers and closets.

So why not put your old cell phone to good use?

Donate your old cell phone, get a tax deduction***, and become part of the cure. The IMF has partnered with Donate A Phone, a project of ReCellular, Inc., and receives a donation for every cell phone you turn in.

ReCellular, Inc. accepts all handheld portable wireless phones capable of operating on either cellular or PCS networks.  These phones are sorted by model, type and condition. Newer phones are refurbished and marketed throughout the world as economical alternatives to brand-new phones. Damaged phones can supply parts to repair other phones that can then be returned to services as refurbished used phones.  Badly damaged phones and obsolete models have no value, but are recycled in accordance with all environmental regulations.

Remember, ReCellular, Inc., accepts all handheld portable wireless phones capable of operation on either cellular or PCS networks, whether they are working or not. If they are damaged beyond usefulness or if they are obsolete (very old models, outdated technology, or made by manufacturers who no longer make wireless telephones), they do not have any monetary value to us or to you. However, ReCellular will absorb the expense of recycling these phones safely, so even if some of the phones you collect have outlived their usefulness, you will know that they are being disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. The following devices should not be sent in as they will not generate any revenue for ReCellular, your group, or the IMF: car phones, so-called “bag phones,” cordless telephones, walkie-talkies, pagers, two-way radios and other commercial radios.

How much is each used cell phone worth?

Current phone models are most in demand and can yield $20.00 or more per phone.  Second tier, older phones will typically generate between $1.00 to $10.00.

1. Newer is better.  Models change very rapidly in the wireless world.  The most valuable phones are those under two years of age.  Phones older than two years but under five e years also have value, although understandably less than the newest models.  But, it’s not always easy to tell how old a phone is, so another rule is…
   
   
2. Smaller is better.  Every year, phone models get smaller and smaller, so one good indicator of a phone’s age is its size.  The so called “brick phones” that were popular in the late 1980s deserve their reputation for ruggedness, but because of their large size they are of no economic value today.  On the other hand, models made within the past few years that are small and light are still in demand around the world, even if you’ve replaced the phone with an even smaller one.
   
   
3. Digital is better.  Phones that identify themselves as being “CDMA” or “TDMA” or “GSM” employ newer digital technology.  Curiously, some phones that say “digital” on the body aren’t really digital.

You can help our environment and the planet. You can help the IMF continue its research and programs. And you don't have to do anything except find the old cell phones collecting dust in a drawer or closet at your home. How easy is that?

If you need more information about how you can turn your old cell phone into dollars for the cure, call the IMF at 1-800-452-CURE (800-452-2873).

Or, you can mail your phone to the IMF, 12650 Riverside Drive, Suite 206, North Hollywood, CA 91607-3421, attention "Cell Phones for a Cure."

***Donate a Phone provides all donors with a tax receipt. It is up to donors and their tax accountants to determine the value of the phones for tax purposes.