June 6, 2005

CONTACT:        Richard R. Johnson, Sustainability Planner

PHONE:             (713) 348-5003

EMAIL:               rrj@rice.edu

Rice University Cell Phone Recycling Campaign a Ringing Success

Cell Phone Recycling Service to Continue Due to Popular Demand

The Rice recycling program, in partnership with the Student Recycling Council (SRC), launched a cell phone recycling campaign in May 2005.  We are pleased to report that over a period of three weeks members of the Rice community turned in 136 cell phones for recycling.    

These donated cell phones will be re-programmed and used for social good; many donated phones are distributed for 911 (emergency only) services, providing victims of abuse with a direct link to necessary communication.  Other recovered phones are used in less developed countries where the cost of a new phone is prohibitive, or in areas where there are no land (wire) lines.  Obsolete used cell phones are recycled in an environmentally-responsible manner, so that none will end up in a landfill.  Our recycler will make a donation to the National Wildlife Federation for each cell phone recycled.

Rice’s cell phone recycling program not only assists those in need, but also protects the environment.  Each year, more than 150 million cell phones are retired in the U.S.  Cell phones contain several toxic substances – including antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc – 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, especially in children.  The Rice recycling program and the SRC are pleased to provide a means for members of the Rice community to avoid placing these toxins in the waste stream and ultimately the environment.

During the cell phone campaign, we also collected approximately 40 lbs worth of adapters and chargers.  While our recycler could not handle these items, we were able to provide them to our Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for re-use in labs and related projects.

Due to the popularity of this program, we will continue to provide cell phone recycling services at Rice.  Simply send your used cell phones via campus mail to Richard Johnson, FE&P, MS-312.  For more information about cell phone recycling or recycling activities at Rice in general, visit http://recycle.rice.edu or email Richard Johnson at rrj@rice.edu.  To contact the Student Recycling Council, email Guyton Durnin at gwdurnin@rice.edu. 

Last updated: June 6, 2005