Old flip phones aren't useless; they can serve as emergency backups, travel dumbphones, or donations. E-waste is a crisis: the UN reports 62 million tons of electronics discarded in 2022, up 82% from the previous decade, projected to rise 32% by 2030. Only 25% is recycled.
As an emergency backup, any US cellphone can call 911 without a SIM, but dispatchers won't receive location data or be able to call back if disconnected. Keep it charged in an emergency kit. As a dumbphone, it's useful for outdoor activities or travel where phone loss risk is high; a SIM is needed for regular use.
Donate to charities like Secure The Call, which provides free 911 phones to victims of domestic violence and seniors. Recycling programs also exist. Repurposing reduces landfill waste and helps others.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing