Buzz About Sustainability
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Great question. Every phone collected through Sprint's wireless recycling programs that will be reused is cleared of all personal data (e.g., call history, contact lists, email, SMS files, calendar entries, photos, video, web browser history, etc.) For those who want the satisfaction of removing personal data themselves before recycling their phone, we recommend they consult their phone's user manual for directions. Another option would be to use an online resource like the Data Eraser – free from ReCellular.
Hats off to Sprint for being in the forefront of recycling! Sprint even offers a buyback program to its customers as an incentive to recycle.
burdona: The buyback program, though, is only good for the newest handsets (say...less than 6 months old, though there are a few exceptions). So, a buyback isn't going to work for most people. Still, recycling the phone is an excellent idea. But the best way to recycle the phone, if you ask me, is to sell it to someone that wants that phone...that way the phone gets used by someone that wants it, and you get to reap a small cash benefit from it. Regardless, recycling is always a good thing if it's cost effective. And, I think this is definitely a cost effective way to recycle. 
Kudos to SprintNextel for doing so.
I just bought two palm pre and asked at the store about the 4 phones i have at home and no longer need. I never got an idea from the sprint store what they would or could do with them. I am now going to take them back to the store and get an answer......
Noltemac - Thank you for the feedback. We're working to make recycling a more integral part of the store experience. For information on the recycling choices that Sprint offers and what's done with phones once their collected check out http://www.sprint.com/recycle. You can either get paid for some phones using the Sprint Buyback program or "pay it forward" by recycling with Sprint Project Connect. Also, you have the choice of recycling from home or in the store. Pre-paid shipping labels are available online and will save you a trip to the store. In the store, a Sprint associate can look up the value of your phone through Buyback or provide pre-paid envelopes for Sprint Project Connect. Darren Beck | Sprint | Manager, Resource Stewardship
darren.d.beck@sprint.com | Twitter: @DarrenBeck
Sprint Admin
says:
I think this is a great program and am proud that Sprint is promoting environmental responsibility.
My friends and family have expressed concerns about clearing out personal information from their phones before recycling. How can I assure them that it is safe?