If you’ve got a job that keeps you on the move, or one that means you need to be constantly available, then the chances are that you keep up with the latest mobile technology. But disposing of old cell phones can be a real environmental problem – most discarded phone handsets end up in landfill where their toxic metal content leaches out and contaminates the land and water supplies. Incineration just sends those same toxins out into the air.

Recycling a handset collects those dangerous materials and turns them into new phones – saving energy in the process and also saving gorillas, because one of the minerals used in mobile phones (coltan) is mined in the Congo and the mining operations are threatening the habitat of the low land gorillas.

So… recycling a mobile phone is a Good Thing, but it’s a bit of a chore, right? What if I told you that recycling your phone could earn you money, or donate money to your favourite good cause – does that make it a bit easier? And in actual fact, recycling can be as simple as popping your phone into an envelope and dropping it in a post box, so I think you’re fresh out of excuses!

If you want to sell your phone (and if it’s a recent model then it could be worth quite a bit of money) then Envirophone are a well established company that offer good prices. You tell them what you have, and they tell you what it’s worth and send out a padded envelope for you to send it in. Once they have it, they’ll send you a cheque or an Argos gift card Simple.

It doesn’t even matter if your phone no longer works or is damaged – they can still recover a lot of the compents and it’s still worth money.

Good causes are also clamouring to get their hands on your old phones, so rifle through those drawers and see whether you’ve got any hanging around. A selection of charities they could support include the Eden Project, Oxfam and The Woodland Trust – all organizations that are working towards a greener world. If you have a large office than Oxfam will arrange a free courier collection for you, so you could encourage your colleagues to bring in all of their defunct phones from home for extra impact.

A quick hunt should turn up local recycling points as well, often helping to fund schools and youth groups.