Mobile Trash Problem

In Seattle Post, Ellen Simon wrote that old electronic gadgets are presenting a massive problem as what comes to recycling. There is just no use for old stuff as new and improved makes previous models obsolete. I have several old mobile phones, computers and gaming devices somewhere in storage, all in good working condition.

The army of variegated devices presents logistic problems beyond comparison. I wouldn't like to focus on this stuff if I was a recycler. Cars and other big stuff might be ok, but I doubt the profitability of recycling multitude of phone models.

Could there be another choice? Maybe we could extend the usage of one generation of these gadgets. We could put together associations, which would collect all sorts of devices and ship them into some Third World country. That country could benefit from these devices. They could have a kick start to their version of information society.

Finally, when the devices would really be completely broken, in that low-cost labor environment, these devices could be disassembled and recycled in a cost effective manner. Logistics must be a problem still, since I am not aware of this kind of program. On the other hand, I do know that there are several religious organizations, which organize clothes collections in order to help poor countries. What about including some new products to the palette?