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If you have a really old cell phone, it has no value on the secondary market. That doesn’t mean it’s worthless. There are ways you can put a smile on someone’s face even though cell phone resellers won’t take your junk back.

I recently started having some minor problems with my Palm Treo 755p, mostly dust particles being trapped behind the screen. I’ve had the phone for several years and while reading the screen wasn’t difficult, it did start to get annoying. Fortunately a friend sent me his Palm Centro (yes, also an old phone) that I’ve been happily using ever since. The dilemma now was finding a new home for my old phone.

I knew the phone wasn’t worth anything on the market, a gently used (OK, slightly more than gently) Treo in an age of iPhones and Droids? You could probably weld two iPhones together and still be lighter than my Zach Morris cellphone-wannable. While it wasn’t worth anything to someone with an eye towards an iPhone, I knew that by donating it I could help someone in need while clearing my house of a little bit of junk.

Delete Sensitive Data

First, before you donate anything, be sure to delete all the data on the phone. We’ve all heard the horror stories of someone donating a Blackberry and then finding out they left all those sensitive company files and emails for people to find. Most donation centers wipe the phone before giving them out but it’s better to be safe and wipe it clean yourself. You can find instructions online for how to purge your phone’s data.

Donate Your Phone

If you can’t, or don’t want to deal with the hassle, sell your phone, consider donating it to an organization. Many times they’re used for their 911 capability, sometimes they can be sent to those overseas, but ultimately they represent the ability to take something that isn’t worth much to you and put it in the hands of someone who will value it more. It’s always better than throwing it, and the harmful chemical components, into the trash.

Here are a few programs of note, many of which will pay for shipping:

• Cell Phones for Soldiers
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence – Here’s more information on their program.
• Call to Protect
• GRC Wireless Recycling

Also, when you donate, you get a small tax deduction (though it’ll be tricky to value if you can’t find a “fair market value”).

Recycle Your Phone

If your phone doesn’t work, it’s better to recycle the phone rather than donate it to an organization (saves them on shipping and the time it takes to discover your phone is a paperweight). You can find a place to recycle your phone by visiting Call2Recycle and searching in your zip code. A search for my area listed a Verizon Wireless, Home Depot, Staples, Apple Store, Lowes and a Radio Shack; there is no shortage of places to recycle your phone and its battery.

Donating or recycling is far better than throwing out your phone!

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