Nokia tries for a totally recycled cell phone

The numbers are truly staggering. Even conservative estimates suggest that there are more than 500 million used cell phones gathering dust in this country today, with another 130 million to go into the desk drawer-or the landfill-this year.

At the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Nokia showed up with a new concept phone called the Nokia Remade that could theoretically be made from recycled aluminum and plastic and even rubber from used tires. Nokia is even ambitious enough to suggest that the guts of the phone could be made out of non-toxic electronics, something that frankly seems years away if it's even possible at all.

Nokia says, "Remade is a concept that explores potential new ideas for the future, and is part of Nokia's ongoing work looking at how it can help people make more sustainable choices. It is designed to help inspire and stimulate discussion on how mobile devices might be made in the future." Fair enough. Anything to get people thinking, to get recyclers recycling, and to get designers designing. For a look at Nokia's promo video, click here.

And by the way, if you'd like a little lesson for yourself and your kids about the life cycle of a cell phone and why recycling phones matters, the EPA can help with a fun kid-friendly presentation that spells it all out in simple terms. Your tax dollars at work!