In summary, the economics of cell phone recycling has been declining since its beginning in the early nineties and currently offers a small profit margin. However, cell phone recycling is only profitable if recyclers do not have to bear any reverse logistics costs. The combined cost of cell phone
collection and recycling would far outweigh its revenues.
Cell phone recycling is economically self-sustaining only if the reverse logistics costs are absorbed by agents other than the e-waste recyclers.