Forget Me Not! How to save an iPhone from turning into e-waste

Do you remember the first time when you held your first iPhone? What about the second time? The third time? The fourth?

At any rate, whether it is about the nth time you have had a new iPhone, you must always remember what to do with the old ones before upgrading.



The Life Cycle of a Cellphone

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), a gadget such as our cellphones or mobile phones have their own life cycle. But, unlike the life cycle of any living organisms, the life cycle of these gadgets can be controlled.

As shown in the picture, the life cycle of a cellphone starts with the same step and can end with two outcomes: one good for the environment and for users, and the second one, bad for the planet as a whole.

The life cycle of a cellphone in detailed stages:

Stage I: Processing of Raw Materials

In the first stage, all needed materials to make or manufacture a cellphone or a smartphone are gathered. These are the things that can be acquired through mining for metals and other elements obtained from the environment.

Cellphones are not purely generated from artificially produced elements. Materials like nickel, copper and gold are used in manufacturing these gadgets. These elements are obtained from mining activities in mountains and other natural resources found to have a reserve .

When all these things are processed along with other elements that are technologically provided, the manufacture process takes place.

Stage II: Manufacturing the Cellphone

The manufacturing stage is basically where resources and skills meet. This is where technology, the creator and all the basic necessity to make a cellphone will meet each other to create the cellphone.

This is where the craftsmanship of the developers is utilized to be able to come up with the design and the features needed to make the cellphone. Technology aids in making the processes easier and more bearable. Technology also helps in efficiently replicating any process for mass production.

After the products are manufactured and checked for quality, these phones are now released to the purchasing public to be bought.

Stage III: Purchasing of Cellphones

Now that every piece have been settled and the last screws are tightened, the product will now be bought by the consumers of these technologies. Consumers are end-users who will benefit from all that has been done since the first step.

These people will use these phones according to their needs and wants. Whether it is for telecommunications, entertainment or any other functions that they may find useful, these products will undergo a process by which its efficiency will come to an end.

During the usual wear and tear, use, misuse and abuse of these gadgets, it will soon stop working. And if it finally does, here comes the controlled results.

Situation A: Recyling

If the cellphone is old but it is still good-to-use and it has a responsible owner, the cellphone might go under the Recycling Stage where it will either be used for repairing or refurbishing. As a result, it will go back to the Purchasing process for it to be reused by another end-user.

In this stage, the functions and lifetime of the cellphone is extended to the point that its value is harnessed to its maximum potential.

This stage is praised for a lot of reasons. It is promoted and always considered to be the best method to conclude the life cycle of cellphones as it gives the most value for the materials used to manufacture it, the amount of money spent to purchase it, and the quality of work required to create it.

As long as the item is usable and still has value, even if the cellphone has to be broken into parts, it will be disposed of properly and it can bring value rather than bring harm. But if the user is not responsible with his or her old device, then another situation ends up happening.

Situation B: Dumping

If the phone is dumped because it is dead, not working or broken, then it will go into landfills and incinerators. This activitiy causes the deterioration of the planet and loss of value and income.
If we are able to sell our old gadgets online, this thing can be controlled. You can save your phone from turning into waste if you will consider what is better to be done.