Wireless Waste: Cell Phone Recycling Behavior of San Francisco Bay Area Residents and Students

Cell phone consumption has increased drastically in the past decade; however, recycling rates in the United States are only around 10-12%. This alarmingly low recycling rate demands attention because mobile phones contain toxic and non-degradable materials that pollute landfills if they are disposed of through the traditional waste stream. To better understand the factors influencing cell phone recycling behavior, this study uses three analytical frameworks: economic, environmental attitudes and behaviors, and perceived consumer effectiveness. I administered a paper survey to Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) passengers and an analogous online survey to students at UC Berkeley and found that the cell phone recycling rate for students was 20% and 28% for BART commuters. Information, pro-environmental behavior and attitudes, and perceived consumer effectiveness were positively correlated with cell phone recycling. Theories about recycling behavior suggest that inconvenience is a major barrier for consumer; however, only 6% of non-recyclers said that cell phone recycling was inconvenient. I found that 67% of the student sample and 61% of the BART sample who did not recycle their cell phone stored their devices for future disposal or as a back up phone. Only 2-3% of the sample threw away their phone. This study suggests that recycling rates could be increased by encouraging consumers through information campaigns that seek to increase their knowledge of cell phone recycling, and perceived consumer effectiveness.