AT&T Reuse & Recycle
A Program for Recycling Wireless Phones, Smartphones, Batteries & Accessories
You shut off the water while brushing your teeth. You hit the office light switches off at the end of the day. You even dig through the trash bin to salvage those recyclable aluminum cans. But when it comes to electronic waste (e-waste), do you know how to reduce waste and safeguard human health and our natural environment? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), of the 2.25 million tons of TVs, cell phones and computer products that can be recycled, only 18 percent was collected for recycling and 82 percent was disposed of, primarily in landfills.
While wireless phones comprise just a portion of that e-waste, AT&T and its customers can play an important role in addressing this issue. That is why AT&T has introduced a national recycling program to make recycling easy and accessible for everyone: AT&T Reuse & Recycle.
Catch the "Recycling" Bug
So, how can you help? Through the AT&T Reuse & Recycle program, consumers are invited to bring unwanted wireless phones, smartphones, accessories and batteries* (regardless of the manufacturer or carrier) to AT&T company-owned retail stores for recycling. Find your closest AT&T retail store.
Plug-In to eCycling
AT&T has partnered with the U.S. EPA as the first wireless carrier to participate in its Plug-In to eCycling campaign. This is one of many new efforts under the EPA's Resource Conservation Challenge, seeking to increase the national recycling rate to 35 percent and cut the generation of 30 harmful chemicals. This campaign asks the question: "What can you save today?"
"Wireless: The New Recyclable" is an environmental initiative with the Cellular Telecommunication and Internet Association (CTIA) to raise consumer awareness of the value of recycling and to set industry standards for the sound recycling of all wireless products. These guidelines set by our industry meet, and in many cases exceed, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regulations for Managing End-of-Life Electronics. Learn more at Wireless: The New Recyclable.
Equipping Our Soldiers with the Power of Communication
AT&T has a long-standing history of supporting Cell Phones for Soldiers – an initiative that uses funds from recycled cell phones to buy prepaid phone cards for active duty military members to help connect them with their families.
Through generous donations and the recycling of used cell phones from drop-off sites across the country, Cell Phones for Soldiers has already raised more than $1 million and distributed more than 75,000 prepaid phone cards to soldiers overseas.
AT&T continues to offer all 2,000-plus company-owned wireless store locations across the country as drop-off sites to help recycle used cell phones for the program. Find the nearest drop-off location to donate your wireless handsets and accessories today. Can't get to one of our company-owned retail store locations? You have two options:
- Download a postage-paid mailing label and mail your phone directly.
- If you don't have a printer, request a postage-paid mailing envelope to be mailed to your address.
Flipswap®, a global leader in consumer electronics buyback programs, provides a trade-in service that is available in all AT&T company-owned retail stores. This service allows AT&T customers to turn in old wireless phones and receive an AT&T promotion card or donate the value to the charity Cell Phones for Soldiers.You can use AT&T promotion cards to offset the cost of a new wireless device from AT&T or the purchase of other AT&T products and services. The value of any donated devices will reflect the device’s trade-in value and condition as determined by Flipswap. All phones – regardless of manufacturer or date purchased – will be considered for trade-in. View details about trade-in service.
Protect Your Privacy!
Here's your chance to take advantage of AT&T's many recycling opportunities. And when you do, please help us protect your privacy. Here are some tips to remember before you recycle your wireless phone:
- Turn off power
- Remove your phone's SIM card, if it has one
- Erase your address book, photos, messages and other stored information
- For instructions on how to do this, go to owner's manual or on the manufacturers' web site and follow the manufacturer's instructions for deleting all personal information on your wireless device, OR access the data eraser for additional assistance on clearing data from your device.
By depositing or mailing your device, you understand and agree that AT&T is not liable for any damages you may suffer if personal information left on your device is accessed.
* AT&T and our customers handle and dispose of various types of wireless phones, smartphones, accessories, and batteries. Federal and state laws regulate handling and recycling procedures associated with batteries in order to protect human health and the environment. The AT&T recycling program complies with federal and state laws intended to protect human health and the environment, while providing a means for consumers and employees to properly and safely recycle these items. Recyclables include handsets, chargers, nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries, lithium-ion batteries, small sealed lead acid (SSLA) batteries, and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries.
Download easy instructions
for clearing data from your
Download a postage-paid
label to mail your phone
Request a postage-paid
envelope to mail your
phone or accessories.
Give your used phone a
new life by helping support
Cell Phones for Soldiers.
Samsung Mobile pledges to
donate $1 for every
Evergreen sold to Cell
Phones for Soldiers®
(up to $100,000).