Can old phones change the future?

New models of mobile phones appear every year – manufacturers try to adapt them to the expectations of modern customers, so they equip the devices with more modern technologies and numerous functions. According to a 2022 study conducted by the Kantar agency, smartphones in Poland are replaced on average every two years. This option was selected by as many as 80% of respondents^(2). It is therefore not surprising that many people want to follow trends or the previous smartphone is simply no longer suitable for everyday use. Then what happens to the old phone? It turns out that we usually just put it in a drawer and (effectively) forget about it. And when we tidy up, suddenly the question arises: where to throw it away? Certainly not in an ordinary garbage bin or container, because they will not be disposed of properly. This is dangerous and can have a significant impact on the entire ecosystem.

Small electronic waste – big threat

Sometimes simple waste sorting raises many questions: should I wash this yogurt container?; what to do with the wrapper on the bottle? And what about electronic waste? That is why awareness and education in this area are so important, because it is a “unique” type of waste, the proper disposal of which has a huge impact on the future of the planet. Unfortunately, it is often simply thrown into the garbage. What can you do with old batteries or phones? Will it really matter where you throw it? Well, it turns out that just one small button cell battery can pollute as much as 400 liters of water! A “finger” battery, which is most often sold in Poland, thrown on the ground can destroy 1 m³ earth. This is because batteries contain toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury and lithium, which can leach into soil and groundwater, leading to their contamination. Isn’t this reason enough to dispose of electronic waste in a conscious and responsible way?

A simple gesture is enough

So where can they be donated so as not to cause problems for the planet? It is very important to dispose of electronic waste responsibly and there are several ways to do it. First of all, you can take them to the Selective Municipal Waste Collection Point – information about the location of PSZOK and opening hours can be found on the website of your commune. Secondly, they can be returned to special containers in all T-Mobile Polska showrooms! The operator, implementing the ESG strategy (E – environment, S – social activities, G – corporate governance), allows all phone users to dispose of their equipment free of charge. The old model can be returned to any T-Mobile showroom across Poland – and best of all, you don’t have to be a customer of this network to join the campaign. However, for people who would like to take advantage of the magenta offer, the operator has prepared a campaign “We act for the sake of nature”. In exchange for the old phone, they will receive a discount on the purchase of a new one – just return the phone you no longer need at the showroom, choose a subscription for telecommunications services tailored to your needs and receive an eco-discount of PLN 100 for the purchase of any device from T-Mobile’s offer.

Rewards for old phones

We now know how to responsibly dispose of an old phone in a responsible way for the planet. What if, by donating it, you can give your child’s school or kindergarten attractive prizes? As part of the next edition of the “Collect batteries and phones” competition, electronic waste turns into attractive gifts. All that is needed is for students and teachers of a given institution to collect the e-waste indicated in the name of the competition into special containers provided to them by the organizer throughout the school year. Apart from batteries, all types of mobile phones are accepted for collection, regardless of the brand, technical condition or model. To take part in the competition, simply complete the application form available on the organizer’s website: Application form – Home Page (zbierajbaterie.pl). Participation in the competition is free of charge. What’s more, by joining the program, teachers will receive educational materials related to ecological attitudes, including lesson plans, which they will be able to use during their teaching work.

And there is something to fight for! In addition to the prizes prepared by the organizer, the branches that collect the most phones will receive additional special prizes donated by T-Mobile. The school that takes first place will receive a bicycle station with bicycle racks. Xbox consoles are intended for places 2-3, and table football for positions 4-10. In the case of kindergartens, the prize for taking first place is a projector, 2-3 places can count on an interactive robot, and 4-10 places will receive a Smart Sketcher projector. Gifts in the form of vouchers will also be available to teachers who get involved in the collection.

However, it is worth remembering that the main goal of the competition is to educate and build a pro-ecological attitude among children and young people so that they consciously approach the issue of segregating electronic waste. Because their small gesture is already of great importance for subsequent generations. And the prizes are just additional motivation…

So can old phones and other electronic waste change the future? Definitely yes – and it all depends on us and what we do with these devices when they no longer serve us in our everyday life.

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(1) “Unused smartphones” study conducted from 24/08/2022 to 31/08/2022 using the CATI method (n=2001), commissioned by T-Mobile.

(2)Research commissioned by rankomat.pl in October 2022.