Wireless Recycling Facts

Cell Phone Usage

• In 2007, 1.2 billion wireless phones were sold worldwide, 181.9 million in the US.
  
• According to the industry trade group CTIA, 4 out of every 5 people in the US own cell phones.
  
• Most Americans use a cell phone for only 12 to 18 months before getting a new one and the average user owns 3 or more phones.
  
• With an estimated 140 million users replacing their old cell phones every 14 months, approximately 100 million cell phones are retired each year in the US. Their estimated value is a staggering $1.4 billion.
  
• The cell phones retired each year in the US would fill 199 boxcars, weigh more than 174 space shuttles, and pay the salaries of the 535 members of Congress for over 15 years.

Cell Phone Disposal

• An estimated 140.3 million cell phones were ready for end-of-life management in the United States in 2007.
  
• A 2007 study found that more than one third of all end-of-life wireless phones were stored away in drawers or closets, 10% were thrown in the trash, and only 9.4% were recycled.
  
• 500 million cell phones are gathering dust right now in the US.
  
• Over 70% of Americans do not know that they can recycle their old cell phones.
  
• In 15 US states, legislation holds electronics manufacturers responsible for recycling old products.

Environmental Impact

• Recycling cell phones reduces greenhouse gas emissions, keeps valuable material out of landfills and incinerators, and conserves natural resources.
  
• Up to 80 percent of a cell phone is recyclable.
  
• Mining the gold needed for the circuit board of a single mobile phone generates an estimated 220 pounds of waste.
  
• Recycling just 1 million cell phones reduces greenhouse gas emissions equal to taking 33 cars off the road for a year.
  
• If all of the 100 million cell phones ready for end-of-life management in the US each year were recycled, we could save enough energy to power more than 18,500 households with electricity for one year.
  
• Cell phones and their batteries contain toxic materials, such as arsenic, lead, and zinc. If improperly disposed of, these hazardous materials can seep out and contaminate soil and groundwater.
  
• In a 2007 study, 34 recent-model cell phones were put through a standard EPA test to simulate conditions in a landfill. All of them leached lead, more than 17 times the federal threshold for what is considered hazardous waste. Under a stricter test, they also leached four other metals above hazardous levels.
  
• If all of the cell phones being stored away today were to end up in a landfill, they would release 312,000 pounds of lead.
  
• One cell phone contaminates 40,000 gallons of water.
  

Electronic Waste

• Electronic waste is the fastest growing part of the US municipal waste stream.
• In 2007, an estimated 3 million tons of consumer electronic waste was generated in the US.
  
• The United States sends between 300 and 400 million electronic items to the landfill each year.
  
• e-waste accounts for 70 percent of the overall toxic waste found in landfills.

Data Security

• 43% of businesses report that information security is part of their organization’s risk management function.
• 72% of businesses express concern about information and/or physical security of company assets when they are off the premises.
• The number of data breaches rose 50% in 2008.
• Nearly 40% of all data breaches occur within businesses and the average organizational cost over four years is $6.65 million.
• 44% of data security breaches involve third-party mistakes. More than 88% of all cases involve insider negligence.
• 58% of consumers reported a decrease in their sense of trust and confidence in a company after being notified of a security breach. 20% actually terminated their relationship with that company.