Managing Hazardous Waste

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How is California Doing with Recycling Cell Phones?

Recycling Cell Phones Will Reduce Waste and Preserve Resources

Cell phones have become a necessary tool for most Americans—an estimated 97% of Americans own a cell phone and 86% of those cell phones are smartphones. Overall, there is an estimated 300 million cell phones in use throughout the US.

Cell phones can contain toxic metals in some of their internal components. For example, the circuit boards in cell phones can contain heavy metals such as arsenic and lead in addition to the other valuable metals such as gold, copper, and platinum. The rechargeable batteries in cell phones contain lithium and cobalt which makes the cell phone batteries hazardous waste as well. If disposed of improperly, these toxic metals may harm the environmental by contaminating our soil and water resources. Because of their potential toxicity, cell phones must be handled as a hazardous waste and not thrown away in our everyday trash.

When recycled, up to 80% of a discarded cell phone can be reused in some way. Their recycling reduces the need to mine for additional non-renewable ores and drill for oil, which is used to make plastic.  

Have an old cell phone you would like to dispose of? Find a recycler near you.

%

Adults who own a cell phone in the U.S.

%

Cell phone users in the U.S. who use a smartphone

Source: Pew Research Center, Mobile Fact Sheet

Source: US EPA

Implementing a Cell Phone Recycling Program

Cell phone users replace their cell phones every 18 months, on average. To encourage the recycling of these discarded cell phones, California passed the California Cell Phone Recycling Act of 2004, which requires retailers to accept all cell phones from consumers for recycling. In order to determine how effective the program is, DTSC publishes the estimated recycling rate on this page each year.

Note On September 16, 2022, Governor Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) 2440, the Responsible Battery Recycling Act of 2022, which will repeal the Cell Phone Recycling Act of 2004 as of January 1, 2028. To learn more, visit:

Estimated Recycling Rate of Cell Phones in 2023

Bar graph of cell phones sold and cell phones collected in California between 2019 and 2023: 4.29 million cell phones were sold and 0.83 million cell phones were collected for recycling in 2018; 5.18 million cell phones were sold and 0.44 million cell phones were collected for recycling in 2019; 8.47 million cell phones were sold and 1.34 million cell phones were collected for recycling in 2020; 10.43 million cell phones were sold and 3.66 million cell phones were collected for recycling in 2021; 9.26 million cell phones were sold and 2.50 million cell phones were collected for recycling in 2022; 6.15 million cell phones were sold and 1.58 million cell phones were collected for recycling in 2022. The recycling rates were calculated as follows: 8.6% in 2019; 15.9% in 2020; 35.1% in 2021; 27.0% in 2022;and 24.8% in 2023.

Phones returned for recycling (reported):    1.58 million          
Phones sold in California (estimated):           6.15 million
Estimated recycling rate in California:           24.8%

Phones returned for recycling (reported):      2.50 million          
Phones sold in California (estimated):             9.27 million
Estimated recycling rate in California:             27.0%

Phones returned for recycling (reported):      3.66 million
Phones sold in California (estimated):             10.43 million
Estimated recycling rate in California:              35.1%

Phones returned for recycling (reported):     1.34 million          
Phones sold in California (estimated):            8.47 million
Estimated recycling rate in California:            15.9%

Phones returned for recycling (reported):     0.44 million          
Phones sold in California (estimated):            5.18 million
Estimated recycling rate in California:            8.6%

Phones returned for recycling (reported):     0.83 million          
Phones sold in California (estimated):            4.29 million
Estimated recycling rate in California:            19.4%

* Values were calculated using the reported sales and recycling values provided by survey respondents without additional adjustments. 

What do the Numbers Mean?

In 2023, retailer and recycler take-back programs collected approximately 1.58 million cell phones and sold an estimated 6.15 million cell phones throughout California.

There are limitations to the accuracy of the estimated recycling rate due to the number of survey respondents. California law does not require cell phone collectors to report the number of cell phones collected for recycling in the state of California, nor does it require manufacturers to report cell phone sales for California. Improving how the industry counts cell phones will increase the accuracy in these reported values.

While retailers and manufacturers of cell phones are concerned about protecting the environment, new incentives and more publicity about cell phone take-back programs will help motivate the public to find and properly recycle any discarded/outdated cell phones they may have.

More Information

California’s Cell Phone Recycling Act of 2004 Fact Sheet
Cell Phone Recycling Act of 2004 – Public Resources Code Section 42490

Questions about recycling the rechargeable batteries in your cell phone? Visit DTSC’s webpage, “Universal Waste – Batteries,” for more information on battery types and how you can properly dispose of them.

Find a Recycler Near You

Call2Recycle Drop-off Locations
Second Wave Recycling
Earth911 Recycling Locator

Questions? Email us at electronicwaste@dtsc.ca.gov

Last updated: June 27, 2024

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