Cell phone recycling program to continue after initial success

Cell phone recycling program to continue after initial success

The Rice recycling program, in partnership with the Student Recycling Council (SRC), launched a cell phone recycling campaign in May. During a period of three weeks, members of the Rice community turned in 136 cell phones to be recycled.

These donated cell phones will be reprogrammed and distributed to victims of domestic violence for 911 emergency services. Other recovered phones can be used in less-developed countries where the cost of a new phone is prohibitive, or in areas where there are no phone lines. Obsolete used cell phones are recycled in an environmentally responsible manner so they will not end up in a landfill. The Rice recycler will make a donation to the National Wildlife Federation for each cell phone recycled.

Each year, more than 150 million cell phones are retired in the U.S. Cell phones contain several toxic substances that can pollute the air when burned in incinerators, and leach into the soil and drinking water when buried in landfills. These toxins have been linked to cancer and neurological disorders. The Rice recycling program is committed to providing a way to avoid releasing these toxins into the environment.

During the cell phone campaign, the recycling program also collected about 40 pounds of adapters and chargers. While the recycler could not handle these items, they were donated to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for use in labs and related projects.

Due to the popularity of this program, the cell phone recycling program will continue. Simply send used cell phones in campus mail to Richard Johnson, university sustainability planner in Facilities, Engineering and Planning, MS-312.

For more information about cell phone recycling or recycling activities at Rice in general, visit <http://recycle.rice.edu> or e-mail Johnson at <rrj@rice.edu>. To contact the SRC, email Guyton Durnin at <gwdurnin@rice.edu>.