• lir
The Life (yc|e
of a (e|| Phone
• friends each have one—owning a cell phone
;'/ has become as common as having a tradi-
tional land-line in your home. More than 156 mil-
lion Americans now use cell phones—including
about 20 percent of American teens! In a way,
cell phones have become a necessity of everyday
life—we use them to call home when we're late,
make plans with friends, or get directions when
we're lost. But have you ever thought about how
cell phones are made and what happens to them
when you don't need them anymore?
Like any product, making a cell phone and its
parts uses natural resources and energy, which
can potentially impact the air, land, and water.
Understanding the life cycle of a product can
help you make environmental choices about
the products you use, and how you dispose of
them. You can help minimize your environ-
mental impact of using a cell phone by:
Materials extraction
ell phone is made up of many materials.
general, the handset consists of 40 percen
tals, 40 percent plastics, and 20 percent
amics and trace materials.
The circuit board (also called a printed
wiring boardl. located in the handset, is the
"brain" of the cell phone because it controls
all of its functions.
Circuit boards are made from mined, raw
materials including copper, gold, lead, nickel,
zinc, beryllium, tantalum, coltan, and other
metals. The manufacturing of these boards
requires crude oil for plastic, and sand and
limestone for fiberglass. Many of these
materials are known as "persistent toxins"
and can stay in the environment for long
periods of time, even after disposal.
The liquid crystal display (LCD) is a
low-power, flat-panel display on the
front of your phone that shows
information and images. It
becomes opaque (hard to
see through) when electrii
current passes through it.
The contrast between the
opaque and transparent
(see-through) areas forms
visible characters.
^Keeping your phone longer. Choose
your cell phone service provider carefully.
Pick a phone with features you need and a
style you like so you will keep it longer.
Find ways to reuse or recycle your phone and
accessories when you're finished with them.
Many companies recycle or reuse cell
phones—visit the "Resources" section of
this poster for a list of suggestions.
Follow the life-cycle diagram to learn more
about cell phones, their parts, and their
potential impact on the environment...
Materials Processing
raw materials must be processed befor
ifacturers can use them to make prod-
chemicals in a processing plant to make
plastic;
Copper is mined, ground, heated, and treated
with chemicals and electricity to isolate the
pure metal used to make circuit boards and
batteries, The resulting copper pieces are
shipped to a manufacturer where they are
formed into wires and sheets.
Manufacturing
Plastics and fiberglass are used to make the
basic shape of the circuit board, which is
then coated with gold plating. The board is
also composed of several electronic compo-
nents, connected with circuits and
wires (primarily made of copper)
soldered to the board and
d with protective glues
Approximately 20 percent
of American teenS (wore
jirlJ than boyi) OWM a cell
phone. By the wd of iocs, LCDs are manufactured by
«ear|y two-thir* of a|| uj. sandwiching liquid crystal
teeni will be wire|eSS! between layers of glass or plastic.
Various liquid crystalline substances, either
naturally occurring (such as mercury, a
potentially dangerous substance) or human-
made, are used to make LCDs. LCDs also
require the use of glass or plastic.
The rechargeable battery is used to
power the phone.
Cell phones can use several types of batter-
ies: nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH), lithium-ion
(Li-Ion), nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd), or lead acid.
Ni-MH and Ni-Cd batteries contain nickel,
cobalt, zinc, cadmium, and copper. Li-Ion bat-
teries use lithium metallic oxide and carbon-
based materials, all mined from the earth.
Batteries consist of two separate parts,
called electrodes, made from two different
metals. A liquid substance, called electrolytes,
touches each electrode. When an outside
source of electricity such as an outlet is
applied, chemical reactions between the elec-
trodes and the electrolytes cause an
electric current to flow, giving batteries their
"juice" or power.
By 200S, ce||
phones will be discarded
at a rate of More than
115 Million phones each
year, resulting in wore
than esiooo tons
of waste!
"Sing Le« Stuff
Materials
Extraction
Materials
preceding
Transportation
Cell phone parts and the finished products
need packaging and transportation to get from
one place to another. Transportation by plane,
truck, or rail all require the use of fossil fuels
for energy, which can contribute to global
climate change.
While packaging protects products from dam-
age, identifies contents, and provides informa-
tion, excessive or decorative packaging can be
wasteful. Packaging
consumes valuable
natural resources, w 198Sl about 340,000
such as paper people a^ ee|| phoites
(from trees), plas- ftl the UHftftj 5^^- ;„
tic (from crude oil 2oo3, More than Wo
in the earth), alu- ^^ peop|e uia|
minum (from ore), or ce|| photKj.
other materials, all of
which use energy to produce
and can result in waste. Some packaging, how-
ever, can be made from recycled materials.
End-oM.ife
anufacturing
ce|| phones are only
u£d for an average of
18 north! before beixg
replaeed-even though
they can function for
h, Much longer.
packaging
Transportation
;tof nine basic pai
. its own life cycle:
Circuit board/printed wiring board
Liquid crystal display (LCD)
Battery
Antenna
The Nine Lives of a cell Phone
Keypad
Microphone
Speaker
Plastic casing
Accessories (such as adapters, headsets,
carrying cases, and decorative face plates)
Between 1999 and 2«o3j
2.5 Billion phone* were
collected to be recycled or
reuSeJ, accountt^ for |e$S thaw
i percent of the Million! of
phones retired or discarded
each /ear.
This means tha
switching cell
phone companies
can mean having
to purchase a new
phone. One way to
extend the useful life
of your phone and prevent
waste is to use the same company for continu-
ing phone service. Always comparison-shop to
be sure you get the service and phone that's
right for you.
You can also extend the life of your phone by
taking care of it—protecting it from damage by
storing it in a case, avoiding dropping it, and
keeping it out of extreme heat and cold and
away from water and other liquids.
The use of rechargeable
batteries in cell phones reduces the
posable batteries create. Be sure to fol-
low the manufacturer's instructions for
charging your batteries so you can
extend their lives as long as possible.
Unlike other countries, cell phone companies
in the United States sell their own phones,
which are usually not interchangeable from
company to company. Even though regulations
now allow consumers to transfer their phone
number to a new phone company, most com-
panies have unique technologies in their
phones that only work in
their own networks.
Reuse
Many organizations—including recyclers, chari-
ties, and electronics manufacturers—accept
working cell phones and offer them to schools,
community organizations, and individuals in
need. Reuse gives people, who could not oth-
erwise afford them, free or reduced cost
Plus, it extends the useful lifetime of a phone.
Take-Back Programs
Many cell phone manufacturers and
service providers offer a "take-back" pro-
gram. Under this system, manufacturers
accept used cell phones and accessories
dispose of them using systems designed
to handle the specific types of waste cell
phones produce. Contact your
manufacturer by using the
information that came with your
phone or via the Internet.
Recycle
Electronics recyclers are springing up every-
where! Today, many stores, manufacturers, and
recycling centers accept cell phones for recy-
cling. While some electronics recyclers only
accept large shipments, communities, schools,
or groups can work together to collect used cell
phones for shipment to electronics recyclers,
Some rechargeable batteries can also be recy-
cled, as several retail stores and some commu-
nities have started collecting them. When
rechargeable batteries are recycled, the recov-
ered materials can be used to make new batter-
ies and stainless steel products.
Check the "Resources" section of this poster
for a list of organizations that will accept your
phone and accessories for reuse or recycling.
You can also use the Internet or phone book to
search for local contacts that recycle and refur-
bish cell phones.
Disposal
By 2005, the rate at which cell phones are dis-
carded is predicted to exceed 125 million
phones each year, resulting in more than
65,000 tons of waste! Cell phones that are
thrown in the trash end up in landfills (buried in
the ground} or incinerators (burned). Because
cell phones contain metals, plastics, chemi-
cals, and other potentially hazardous sub-
stances, you should always recycle, donate, or
trade in your old cell phone. It's free and easy.
Don't throw it away! Phones that are thrown
away waste energy and result in the loss of
valuable resources.
Crank up the
A major cell phone manufacturer recently developed a way to recharge cell
phone batteries using "muscle power." This hand-powered device provides
20 minutes of talk time after just three minutes of squeezing a hand-held
generator] Other new technologies, such as hydrogen fuel cells and zinc-air
and solar-powered batteries, are under development and might ultimately
replace current battery technology.
These new alternatives will conser
natural resources and reduce wast
-------
what iS a Life (yc|e?
Wave you ever considered where the products
you use every day come from, or what
happens to them when you finish using them?
Do you know how each of the products you use
impacts the environment?
Just as living things are born, get older, and die,
products also complete a life cycle. Each stage of a
product's life cycle can affect the environment in
different ways. Some products, such as cell
phones, have many different components, each of
which has its own life cycle in addition to the life
cycle of the composite product. The stages of a
product's life cycle usually include:
"Design. A product's design can influence each
stage of its life cycle and in turn the environment.
Design affects which materials will be used to
manufacture a product. For example, cheaper
materials are often less durable, which means
the product will have a short useful life. Product
design can also prevent waste in many ways.
Products can be designed with modular compo-
nents that can be easily replaced so that the
:t does not have to be thrown
inly one piece breaks. Items
:antto!asta longtime can
avoid trendy designs so
they are not
"Materials Processing. Once materials are
extracted, they must be converted into a form
that can be used to make products. For exam-
ple, paper is made from trees, but the wood has
to undergo several different processes before
we can use it.
* Manufacturing. Products are made in facto-
ries and require a great deal of energy to create.
The manuiacturing process can also produce
pollution, Many products require the use of
packaging as well, to prevent spoilage, damage,
contamination, and tampering.
"Packaging & Transportation. The use of
packaging can protect products from damage
and provide product information. However, pack-
aging consumes valuable natural resources and
when used excessively can be wasteful, Some
packaging can be made from
recycled materials.
Finished products art
transported in trucks,
planes, and trains to differei
locations where they are sold. All of these
forms of transportation burn fossil fuels, which
can contribute to global climate change.
"Materials Extraction. All products are made
from materials found in or on the earth. "Virgin
or "raw" materials, such as trees of ore, are
process that can create pollution, use large
amounts of energy, and deplete limited natural
resources. Making new products from material
that have already been used (recycled mat
need to take from the earth.
"Use. The way products are used can impact the
environment. For example, products that are
only used once create more waste than prod-
ucts that are used again and again.
"Reuse/Recycling/Disposal. Using a product
over and over again prevents the need to create
the product from scratch, which saves
resources and energy while also preventing pol-
lution. Recycling or re-manufacturing products
also reduces the amount of new materials that
have to be extracted from the earth. Throwing a
ils) product away means that it will end up in a land-
fill or incinerator and will not be useful at
Re$ource$
options for RfttSc f Recycling
"Collective Good
www.collectivegood.com
Collective Good refurbishes donated cell phones
uses them to pravice aflirdsole wireless servict
throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.
"Cellular Telecommunications & Inl
Association (CTIA}
www.ctia.org
CTIA is an international assoc
telecommunications industry.
"Charitable Recycling
www.charitablerecycling.com
Charitable Recycling Program encourages the don
tion of used cell phones.
"Plug-in to eCycling Program
www.plugintoecycling.org
organizations, is helping consumers of electronic
products tap into a network of recycling opportuni
"National Recycling Coalition's (NRC's)
Electronic Recycling Initiative
www.nrc-recycle.org/resources/
electronics/index.him
NRC's Electronics Recycling Initiative promotes the
recovery, reuse, and recycling of obsolete electronic
equipment.
x the wireless Life Cycle web SiteS
"ReCellular, In
This program provides information on life cycle
environmental impacts of products.
"U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Green Engineering Program
www.epa.gov/opptintr/greenengineering
This program advocates designing products with theii
entire life cycle in mind.
"United Nations Environment Programme,
Life Cycle Initiative
www.unepie.org/pc/sustain/lca/lca.htm
This web site provides information about products
and service? wc-r ncn TTI-D Lie cycle.
Corporation (RBRC)
RBRC is a nonprofit, public service organization that
recycles rechargeable batteries.
"The Wireless Foundation
www.wirelessfoundation.org
Established by CTIA, this foundation is involved with
several programs that use wireless communications
and teachers more effective.
"How5tuffWorks.com, Inc.
w w w. h o wstuff w o rks. c onVcel l-phone.htm
This web site provides a straightforward and easy-
to-read discussion of the technical componenis of a
cell phone and the technology that makes it work.
"Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA)
A trade association for the electronics industry,
nies are incorporating environmental attributes in
electronic products.
Hand-Held Hunt
Whether at school, home, or out running
errands, people use hand-held electronic
devices everywhere they go. Take an infor-
mal survey to find out who uses the following
items in the various locations you visit during a
single day, This activity will illustrate how many
people own and use cell phones and their acces-
sories. You may discover interesting trends in who
is buying and using cell phones and their acces-
sories in your community!
Consider whether the people
are kids, teenagers, or adults ,
and whether they are mal'
or female. For example,
spend a half-hour at the mall and
identify how many people in each category are
using the items listed below. Perhaps adult men
use belt clips more than younger women. Is that
true? Find answers to these questions, and turn
your results into a graph or chart.
Many people use a cell phone headset while they are driving or walking
around to keep their hands free. Most models of headsets can be reused
when you buy a new phone.
Be|t c|ip:
Some people buy belt clips to
y donating your belt clip wher
y cell phones while not in use. Reusing
u are finished using it prevents waste,
Decorative face plates can be trendy and fun, but you don't need them to
ucts you don't need. If you do buy face plates, donate unwanted ones to a
charity or swap them with your friends instead of throwing them away.
Cell phones have a lot of the same parts as hand-held video game
consoles and portable CD players, including speakers, circuit boards, and
LCDs. Old or broken consoles and players can also be reused or recycled
when no longer wanted.
The Big Debate:
Recycle, or Dispose?
What are some of the end-of-life options for cell phones? List the 0
the pros and cons of each.
Pros CouS
:; ax. oca authorities have to say about end-of-life
2. Find out what cell phone manufacturer
options for cell phones.
Conduct Internet research or call a company that produces cell phones. Find out what it conside
to be the useful life of a cell phone. Ask what the policy is for accepting its cell phones back for
recycling or re manufacturing.
Find out what your teachers do with their cell phones at the end of their useful life.
Contact a local recycling center and ask it if accepts old cell phones.
Contact a cell phone recyder to learn about its recycling practices and what products are made
from recycled cell phones.
Contact your local waste management agency and ask what its policy is regarding discarded
cell phones.
3- After conducting this research, write a summary of your findings, including who you contacted, the
date, and what information you obtained. Or, present the results to your classmates and discuss what
you view to be a good end-of-iife choice for cell phones.
(opponents (rotfword
word$ fro* the wi$e
. ,se the following clues about the differ-
Across
1 . The battery, the LCD, and the
board create 98 percent of a cell
phone's environmental impacts.
4. Cell phones that are thrown away
waste energy and result in the loss
of valuable .
7. Each part of a cell phone must be
and transported, which
requires energy and often creates
9. Some facilities will recycle .
batteries when they can no longer
be reused.
10. Cell phones are actually not phones
at all but sophisticated two-way
11. LCDs are a low-power, flat panel
display made by sandwiching liquid
between layers of glass
or plastic.
Down
1 . Circuits and wires on a circuit board ar
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9
10
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7
5
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3 primarily made from
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2. Ni-MH and Ni-Cd batteries contain nicka . cobalt, cadmium
to be mined and processed, which creates pollution and waste.
3. Many cell phone parts can be removed from the phone and
5. Batteries consist of two separate parts, called .
'lastics and . are used to make the basic shape of a circuit board.
Crude oil is combined with natural gas and chemicals to make ,
Math Activity i: (e|| ph |