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Recycle Your
Old Cell Phones & PDA's |
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In this information age of technology, it
seems like just about everything can (and should) be recycled. In terms of
electronics and eWaste, which is the fastest growing form of waste in the world
currently, the necessity for recycling is clear as day. Cell phones alone
contribute to a large percentage of electronic waste and also pose a great risk
for toxic metal environmental pollution. Not only do PDA's and cell phones leak
Lead, Mercury, Arsenic and Cadmium into the water supply, if incinerated, which
many municipalities do to their waste, these toxic metals go back into the
Earth's atmosphere and return once again via rain water.
Now, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency is waking up to the rising danger of toxic metal cell phone pollution.
Thanks to the EPA's "Plug-In to eCycling" campaign, recycling your cell phone is
easier than buying a cell phone. In fact, recycling your cell phone is easier
than making pancakes. Okay, I suppose that depends on whether or not we're
talking about an instant pancake mix, but you get the point.
Since 2003, Plug-In to eCycling has
recycled more than 142 million pounds of electronics. And now that cell phones
are becoming as household as...well, a toothbrush, not to mention the fact that cell
phone manufacturers are coming out with new models every year, Plug-In to eCycling
has made cell phone recycling a top priority.
The EPA has already set up thousands of
cell phone drop-off centers throughout the U.S. to help in collecting the one
billion cell phones that are thrown out every eighteen months. That's right. One
billion cell phones get thrown away every eighteen months. If we recycled just
1/10 of this (100 million cell phones), there would be enough saved energy to
power 194,000 homes in the U.S. for an entire year.
Check the EPA's website, www.epa.gov/cellphones to find your nearest
drop-off center. Even better, you can help benefit a charity or save rainforest
land by donating your cell phone to
CollectiveGood, which generates charitable
funds by recycling your cell phone. CollectiveGood
will have you fill out a donation form to a charity of your choice, ranging from
Adopt an Acre of Rainforest programs to the Humane Society. All you have to do
is mail your cell phone or PDA in and you'll help to make a huge difference.
Speaking of rainforests - on a side note -
if you do indeed have an interest to help protect and save the world's
rainforests, check out SaveYourWorld, where proceeds of every purchase of their
100% natural personal care products go to saving the earth.
Author: Dabannon
RECYCLING TIPS
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