Cell phones are just one of the recent technological innovations that have helped make our lives easier. Yet for all the advances and additions that cell phones have received throughout the past decade, there's always another new model just around the corner with the latest functionality, or a fresh, stylish design. For this reason, cell phones have short relationships with their users, at the end of which they usually find themselves relegated to the garbage bin. There are many good reasons to avoid going that route though, instead donating that old used Verizon cell phones to charity, and these are just some of the reasons why.

The most notable casualty of the recent increase in discarded cell phones is the environment. Cell phones which aren't properly disposed of contaminate the environment and water supplies which we all make use of daily. In fact, millions of cell phones are disposed of weekly in North America, and these phones, along with their batteries, account for nearly 65,000 tons of toxic waste in our environment.

By donating your cell phone to charity, you can do your small part to help slow the rapid growth of cell phone waste in the environment. Many charities hold charity drives, through which they collect numerous goods, including cell phones, which can then be passed along to others, or sold to help the charity cover their operating expenses. Just be sure that your phone really will make it into the proper hands, as there are many scams looking to take advantage of generous people by impersonating needy charities, or acting as representatives of a charity.

Another little known fact about cell phones is that even when they no longer have active service from a carrier, these phones still have the capability to dial 911, a requirement handed down by both the FCC in the U.S, and the CRTC in Canada. As such, refurbished cell phones can still prove of great benefit to many people, most notably those who do not have or otherwise need an active cell phone. In this way, a phone that may seem useless to one person could be a lifesaver to another. As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure. By keeping these thoughts in mind and donating your used cell phone to charity, the purchase of a new cell phone can be beneficial for both you and others.