Recycle Your Cell Phone

Are you planning to upgrade to a new cell phone that'll manage your email, show webcasts, and all but make your morning coffee? If so, what will you do with your old phone?

Cell phones contain a number of hazardous substances, including arsenic, lead, and PBDEs, that can pollute soil and ground water when buried in landfills. These persistent toxins are associated with cancer and endocrine system disruption.

The National Cell Phone Collection Program (NCPCP), part of the nonprofit organization PITCH-IN CANADA, recycles used cell phones, keeping them out of landfills. Even better, they pay one dollar per phone to local community groups registered with their program. These groups, which include schools, hospitals, clubs, and camps across Canada, collect old cell phones broken or not. The NCPCP refurbishes or remanufactures the phones to "as-new" condition and these are then sent to developing countries, providing them with affordable phones.

To find an up-to-date list of cell phone collection centres in your area or to register your group with the program, visit the PITCH-IN CANADA website at pitch-in.ca. They provide groups with colour posters, prepaid shipping labels, and tips on the best places to collect old phones to help your group promote cell phone
recycling.