What to do with old phone(s)???

I purchased a bunch of network switches back in December. At the same auction was a lot of Nortel phones and the backbone for them. For the price I couldn't pass it up. Have since then parted out or scrapped the phone servers. However, I still have almost 2 gaylord boxes of phones. Any idea what to do with them? Breaking them down results in a small board, some screws, all the keys, and the rest is rigid plastic. I've thought about selling the keys online for crafts. But not really much money in it for the effort it takes. Looked at selling the lot on ebay but shipping would eat me alive for what they would bring. What is everyone's thoughts?

Thanks

Cords are ~$0.25 /lb, gold plug ends are ~ $0.32 /lb.

Is there gold plating under the solder mask of the controller boards ? If so, Ebay the boards for the best possible price per /lb

Do they work? If so resale is the way to go even as a big lot. Freight shipping reduces the costs dramatically, under $.20/lb you can plan on unless you're shipping all the way across the country. There is a buyer in the buyer/seller section that can organize the freight shipping for you. Otherwise as scrap the board should get you somewhere in the mid grade range depending ($1-2/lb more or less). Leaves a lot of plastic to recycle unfortunately after that.

I typically try to test them at a basic level. Then I try to sell them on eBay. If they don't sell within the time frame I allot, then I just break them down gradually when I don't want to work on anything else. Unfortunately, my trash company has changed their rules on what goes in recycling. If it's not a bottle, box, or can - they don't take it. They just leave the whole dang 96-gallon bin there un-emptied and you have to worry about disposing of it. Really sucks. They won't even take clean computer towers for the steel at which they are.

Originally Posted by Stargate1

[...]Unfortunately, my trash company has changed their rules on what goes in recycling. If it's not a bottle, box, or can - they don't take it. They just leave the whole dang 96-gallon bin there un-emptied and you have to worry about disposing of it. Really sucks.[...]

I have to take my plastic to an older gentleman in upper West Virginia 2 or so times a year.
Recycling plastic is getting harder and harder as time goes on.

If you had literally tons of sorted plastics, I knew of a company in Florida that would take it, however I do not think they exist anymore

Originally Posted by Stargate1

Unfortunately, my trash company has changed their rules on what goes in recycling. If it's not a bottle, box, or can - they don't take it. They just leave the whole dang 96-gallon bin there un-emptied and you have to worry about disposing of it. Really sucks. They won't even take clean computer towers for the steel at which they are.

In my area the state now considers plastic to be solid waste for both businesses and residential due to the recycled plastic market disappearing. Several recycle centers in the area have also stopped accepting #1 and #2 plastics which they previously got for free. If it isn't even profitable to get it for free the maket must be quite bad.

Most recycling firms around Las Vegas also stopped taking plastic after the new National Sword policies went into effect, even if totally clean.

I could get tons of plastic.

I got thrift stores that woudl give me tons of tv's by the pallet. Far more of a pain in the ass then I'm willing to endure though.

I like money but I like working smarter more. I paid my dues with TVs. I'm ok never doing another.

an yes...I must echo Hobo...why would you give away the towers to the trash guys? Stack'm up till you get enough an take'm to the yard. They add up very fast.

Towers usually pay for the ice in the cooler. The good stuff pays for the beverages.

I don't drink cheap crap unless it's free. :P

Sirscrapalot - I'm an expensive date when it comes to beverages.

Originally Posted by JJinLV

[...] even if totally clean.

If the plastic is clean, you could buy a granulator and pelletizer ... on Ebay, pellets go for $0.60 to $5.00 /lb
https://www.ebay.com/bhp/plastic-resin-pellets

According to Google, the setup would cost about $160,000 to $250,000 for a small operation. Used, the equipment would run around $90,000 - $120,000 or so.

Some of those phones have really nice boards in them. The Nortel 7208 and 7316's have very small boards but they are mid grade high at around $2.30 a pound. BTW, it takes 12 of those small boards to make a pound.

Originally Posted by HipoGear

Keep in mind that every phone and handset likely has a couple ounces of lead too. I have about 150 phones to break down still. Not excited to do it which is why I still have them all. Like you, i got them at an auction at a arice that was too good to refuse.

Do you know what the model number is on those phones?

We're breaking down all of the IP phones we take in right now... for the ~35 seconds it takes to pull them apart, it makes sense. We're able to move the boards for about 2.45, the wire sells as 35% for ~.65, and the earpieces have enough steel in them for weight that they can go into our shred.

This won't help in regards to landline phones, but there used to be a buyer for Cell phones whole. Newer and older models. I'll not name them here as I'm not sure I can. Pretty sure their buyer post is still up. If it is though it'll be way at the back of the buyers listing. I know he was active on GRF as of a year or so ago. Located in Florida to.

This is the landline phone part...Always open your house/office/landline phones. Not all created equally.

@jimicrk aren't you are resident phone guy expert or am I getting you mixed up with another? I can't remember everyone's niche anymore. I'm either getting old, or need to visit the cooler more often. I blame Hobo. It's hard keeping up with all the goats, my quotes, an the craziness of my little band of crazy Cooler Pullers.



An if you do break'm down. Give us some pics an make yourself loved on the forum.

We like pictures. A lot.

Sirscrapalot - ooooooooooo laaaaaaaaaaaaaayyy heeeeee whoooo - Don't ask.

Originally Posted by Sirscrapalot

@jimicrk aren't you our resident phone guy expert or am I getting you mixed up with another? I can't remember everyone's niche anymore. I'm either getting old, or need to visit the cooler more often. I blame Hobo. It's hard keeping up with all the goats, my quotes, an the craziness of my little band of crazy Cooler Pullers.

Definitely not the resident phone guy. Not my niche. You must be thinking about someone else.

I specialize in gooble boxes, flooble cranks and blooble yanks.

Sell those IP phones if they work. I'm looking for one for example just to test PoE switches.

Sorry it took so long to reply. Been busy at work. Have a few different version's of the Nortel phones.

NT7316E Charcoal / T7316 Platinum / M7324 / T7316E Charcoal

Would it be possible to sell them on ebay in lots of 10? I see a lot of the 7316 phones in the sold section. They are well made phones and there are still a lot of businesses that have older Nortel systems.
Another option would be to locate a business in your area that has a Nortel system and sell the phones to them. A more difficult option, but not impossible.
You could always just scrap them. Those Nortel phones have less screws than most phones and are easy to scrap. Don't forget the display board. Take the handset cords and the station cords and put them with your insulated cable.
If you do scrap them I hope you have a place to take the plastic because you're going to have 2 gaylords when you get done.