If you live in Florida, chances are you’ve got a couple of old phones tucked away somewhere, maybe a sun-faded Android you used during hurricane season, or an old iPhone that survived a beach trip but never quite recovered. Instead of letting them take up space (or worse, tossing them out), you can put them to good use and keep Florida’s environment healthy at the same time.
Throwing a phone in the trash might seem harmless, but electronics contain materials that can leak into Florida’s soil and waterways. With the state’s wetlands, coastlines, and wildlife, responsible recycling matters more than ever.
The good news? Giving your device a cleaner, more meaningful second life is simple.
Why Recycle Old Phones in Florida?
Protect Florida’s Natural Beauty
From the Everglades to the Gulf Coast to the springs in Central Florida, the state is filled with delicate ecosystems. Phones contain lithium, lead, and other toxins that can contaminate groundwater if they’re mishandled.
Recycling ensures those hazardous materials are processed safely and gives valuable metals like gold, silver, and copper a chance to be reused. It’s a small step with a big impact.
Support Animal Welfare
When you recycle through Rescue Recycle, your old phones help more than just the planet. Working devices are refurbished and resold, with a portion of proceeds supporting animal shelters across the country, including in Florida.
Broken devices that can’t be reused are responsibly recycled through our R2-certified partners. Nothing ends up in a landfill, and no remaining data is left behind.
Your old phone could help feed, house, or provide medical care for animals waiting for a second chance.
How to Recycle a Cell Phone in Florida
Local Drop-Off Options
Florida counties frequently host e-waste collection events, and many have year-round programs:
- Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, and Broward counties offer electronics drop-off centers
- Cities like Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville often hold electronics recycling days
- Best Buy and Staples typically accept phones for recycling
But if you’d rather skip the drive…
Try Mail-In Recycling with Rescue Recycle
Our nationwide program makes it easy for Floridians to recycle from anywhere in the state — from Key West to Pensacola. Here’s how:
- Request a shipping label
- Free label if sending 4 or more devices
- Label provided (postage not included) for 1–3 devices
- Pack your devices with protective padding
- Send them in
We’ll handle everything else – sorting, refurbishing, responsible recycling, and supporting rescue animals.
Prepping Your Phone Before Sending
Before you mail your device, take a moment to:
- Back up your data (photos, contacts, etc.)
- Remove Apple or Google accounts
- Follow our detailed device preparation guide, to remove Apple and Google accounts.
- If you’re not able to remove them, devices with locked accounts go to our R2-certified recycling partner for secure destruction.
- Factory reset the phone
- Take out SIM and SD cards
Then wrap your phone securely and place it in a padded envelope or small box.
We Accept Broken and Outdated Phones, Too
Cracked screens? Water-damaged? Won’t turn on?
We take it all.
Even non-working phones have recyclable materials. Sending them in ensures they don’t end up in Florida’s landfills or worse, in the ocean or waterways.
Other Ways to Repurpose Your Device
Not ready to donate it?
You can still:
- Sell your phone through buyback programs, online marketplaces, or local shops
- Trade it in with many carriers or retailers for store credit
Both options keep your device in circulation and out of the waste stream.
Frequently Asked Questions (Florida Edition)
Do I need to live in a big city to use Rescue Recycle?
No — we serve all of Florida. Whether you’re in Miami, Ocala, Tallahassee, or a small beach town, you can ship your devices from anywhere.
Can I send multiple phones at once?
Absolutely. One shipment is easier for you and for us.
What happens to my phone once it arrives?
Working phones are refurbished and resold to support animal shelters. Devices that cannot be refurbished or devices with accounts that can’t be removed, go straight to an R2-certified partner for secure recycling.
Do you take chargers or cords?
Not at this time — phones and handheld electronics only.
Make a Difference in the Sunshine State
Recycling your old phone may seem like a small task, but in Florida, small steps go a long way. You’re keeping harmful materials out of wetlands, beaches, and wildlife habitats and helping animals in need at the same time.
Ready to turn that forgotten phone into something good?
Send it to Rescue Recycle and give it a second life for Florida’s people, pets, and planet.