the next time before you throw that cellphone away...

Unknown to many I believe, myself included until now, our cellphones contain a metal known as coltan in the circuit boards. Coltan is short for Columbite-tantalite which strangely enough is only found in the Republic of Congo for the time being. Illegal and systematic exploitation of this somewhat precious metal has led to increased exploitation of gorilla as bush-meat and increased gorilla habitat destruction. And by throwing cellphones away to be buried in landfills, potentially hazardous chemicals such as antimony and arsenic is leached into the soil. So, if possible, recycle your cellphones, don't throw old cellphones into the bin, and above all, resist that urge for the latest, shiniest, most-must-get, all-hyped-up, most-dreamed-about, most-raved-about, most-advertised about, cellphone...

http://www.cellular-news.com
http://news.nationalgeographic.com