This logo isn't an ad or affiliate link. It's an organization that shares in our mission, and empowered the authors to share their insights in Byte form.
Rumie vets Bytes for compliance with our
Standards.
The organization is responsible for the completeness and reliability of the content.
Learn more
about how Rumie works with partners.
Is this what your junk drawer looks like?
Photo by Eirik Solheim on UnsplashWith a little creativity you can find value in your old devices and give them new life!
Use It As An Educational Tool
Remove all the apps on your old phone except the most educational ones:
One phone for daily life, and another for learning!
Turn It Into A Personal Arcade
Use attachments to turn your device into a dedicated game station:
Nostalgic? Turn it into a Gameboy!
Like the latest tech? Use it for VR!
Embed your device into a controller...
...or use one that you already have!
Did you know?
You can get feedback on your resume from Rumie community members in our Discord Server. Come by, we'll help you get the job!
Use It As A Monitor
Use your old phone to keep an eye on things:
a nanny cam for your pet when you're not home
as a home security system
Repurpose It For A Family Member
A grandparent can use your old phone to:
video call their grandchildren
refill their prescriptions
check their emails
A little brother or sister can use your old phone to:
play games
listen to music
take pictures and record videos
Use It For Backup Storage
Dump copies of photos or other files into your old phone, just in case.
As a bonus, you might even avoid having to pay for extra cloud storage.
Recycle Your Device
Keep old electronics out of landfills by bringing them to a recycling kiosk or centre!
There are many options for recycling devices in the US, such as Earth911, Call2Recycle, and directly through manufacturers. The authors of this Byte work for a recycling service called ecoATM, with kiosks around the country that provide cashback on the spot for devices.
Look up a similar service local to you!
Quiz
Boris has a smartphone that is 3 years old. It still works, but is a bit slow when it comes to texting (which he does a lot). Once he gets a new phone what could he do with old one?
All of these are great ways to repurpose his old phone! As long as Boris or someone else is still using it, or it's being recycled, the phone isn't going to a landfill.
Take Action
Go through your old devices! Can you:
This Byte has been authored by
babak forutanpour
Head of R&D
Chase Freeman
Public Relations Manager