Some time ago, The Blog posted about a potential e-waste problem with the new Apple iPhone 5, and all the potential discarded legacy iPhones. To help stanch that flow of old handsets, Earthworks has launched its Recycle My Cell Phone Web site where you fill out a simple form and they will tell you where to send your old phone. If you collect more than 20 handsets (through legal channels, I hasten to add) they will cover shipping. They also offer steps on how to organize a cellphone collection drive. Earthworks has partnered with MPC, which handles the actual recycling. As Earthworks points out:

recovering the gold, silver, palladium and copper found in the 50 million iPhone 5s projected to enter pockets and purses by the end of the year would reduce the demand for newly mined metals by nearly 14 tons, eliminating 20 million tonnes of mining waste.

Or, you can even hang onto the old one and use it for other purposes. When I bought my iPhone 4 several years ago, I put my old first-gen iPhone to use as a dedicated iPod for the car. Six years after I originally bought it, it still functions perfectly fine. Also, too: Apple will help you recycle your old handsets and other electronics, in-store or via mail.