People Hoard Skinny Jeans and Cellphones

A new report has found that nearly half of those surveyed (45%) said they were hoarding old cell phones in their homes. But when asked if they knew they could recycle their used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones, almost three-quarters (71%) answered in the affirmative. There just seems to be something about old electronics that causes us to keep them in our possession versus recycling them. Could it be the amount of money we spend on the devices? Or is it the fear that we will need a backup device in the event the new model becomes lost, stolen, or damaged? The fact remains that many of these products are kept in storage for many years while they could be recycled instead.

The survey, which consisted of 573 respondents, shows that roughly 25% (1 in 4) of Americans are still holding on to their "skinny jeans" in hopes of being able to wear them once again. On the other hand, old love letters and pictures of ex-boyfriends and girlfriends are the first to be tossed when cleaning out the closet (only 6% of those surveyed still had those mementos lying around). Aside from old textbooks and yearbooks and the clothes of yesteryear, electronics were the most widely stockpiled item found under the bed and in the closet.

In a survey conducted by NOP World among 1,000 adult Americans in April 2005, consumers surveyed use an average of six wireless products in their day-to-day lives, and over 30% of consumers own and use eight or more wireless products.

"People are growing increasingly reliant on rechargeable batteries to power their daily lives," said Ralph Millard, Executive Vice President, Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC). "As this reliance grows, so does the need to recycle the rechargeable batteries found in these products. Our program, Call2Recycle, is set up to make recycling the rechargeable batteries found in wireless products and cell phones easy and convenient for all consumers wishing to de-clutter their homes and do the right thing for the environment at the same time."

Fortunately, when asked what would it take to get them to recycle their used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones, 58% of the survey respondents replied that convenient drop-off locations in their area would make a difference.

Since its inception in 1996, the nonprofit Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) has collected a total of 26 million pounds (or 13,000 tons) of rechargeable batteries collected in the U.S. and Canada."

Posted to the site on 22nd November 2005