With many of us upgrading our mobiles every year or so, it can be tricky to know what to do with old SIM cards, especially if you’re someone who’s keen to do their bit for the environment.
SIM card facts
SIM is an acronym for Subscriber Identity Module and it is a tiny computer chip which holds the information needed to connect to a mobile network. The data held on a SIM includes the identity of the mobile subscriber, the PIN and Personal Unblocking Key, or PUK. It also contains the circuit card ID number.
They were first invented in Germany in 1991 and they revolutionised the mobile phone industry, as they allowed customers to move their subscriptions between devices. Surprisingly, an average SIM contains a very small amount of gold, as well as silicon and sometimes phosphorus. The manufacture of SIMs creates a staggering 75,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Can I recycle my old SIM card?
Most SIM cards are made of plastic, but that doesn’t mean they can be put in your household recycling. In fact, it is difficult to recycle them and the recommended option is to cut them up and place them in your normal household waste. If you’re someone who regularly gets new SIM cards, this isn’t very environmentally friendly, so you may want to consider getting a multi network data SIM, which allows you to connect to several different mobile networks. They can also be bought as eSIMs, which are a virtual version of traditional SIM cards These are ideal for people who have struggled to get a mobile signal in the past, as they find the strongest signals available in your location.
If you want to find out more about multi network data SIM cards, there are many suppliers such as Lister Communications who can help.
Responsible disposal
There are companies who recycle SIM cards in order to extract any gold from them, so you can check if there are any near you. Otherwise, you’ll have to stick to putting it in your black bin bag.