Everyday consumers are faced with advertising campaigns that attempt to lure their gently used electronics into retirement by encouraging them to upgrade to the newest model. A 2007 study in the United States found that "500 million used cell phones stored in closets and drawers will end up in landfills as electronic waste (E-Waste)." As electronic waste continues to spread across the world, it is growing faster than leaves on trees can grow and poses a threat to human health and the environment (E-Cycle). Consumers recycling their cell phones to reuse materials benefits both environmentally and socially by reducing e-waste. E-waste is a huge problem worldwide and according to the “United Nations Environment Program, 20 to 50 million tons of e-waste are generated globally every year. (Ford)". In fact, "ten thousand cell phones end up in a landfill every day (Weston)". When electronic waste is not disposed of properly, it can cause problems to the environment and human health Human health could be affected by toxic materials leaching into drinking water or food. Cell phone materials “contain lead, cadmium and mercury which can potentially leach contaminants into the soil and. groundwater (Mosieur)”. “Exposure to lead for humans will damage the nervous system, blood and kidneys and exposure to mercury will cause brain damage (e-Catcher)”. used to Africa and Asia is becoming commonplace because "it is cheaper to recycle them in Africa and developing countries." There are no suitable facilities or environmental standards for proper disposal (Ford). Used mobile phones are discarded...... middle of paper...... August 10, 2010."Recycling statement." Cell for money. Cash cell, 2002-2010. Internet. August 9, 2010. Sawyer, Michelle. “Cell phone recycling: donate your old cell phone.” Charity guide. Marketing Issue, 2005-07. Internet. August 13, 2010. "Waste - Resource Conservation - Common Waste and Materials - eCycling." USEnvironmental Protection Agency. US Environmental Protection Agency, June 23, 2010. Internet. August 7, 2010.Weston, Liz Pulliman. “3 ways to throw away an old cell phone.” Money Central MSN. Microsoft, 2010. Web. August 10, 2010. “What is GreenPhone?” » Green telephone. Flipswap, Inc, 2009. The Web. August 9, 2010. “Where does electronic waste end up?.” » Green Peace. Greenpeace International, February 24, 2009.Web. August 15, 2010. “Why recycle”. North Point Recycling. North Point Recycling, 2008. Web. August 11, 2010. “Wireless Recycling Facts.” e-Cycle. e-Cycle, 2009. Web. August 15 2010.