Listen to the podcast.

Cell Phone Recycling

SO YOU JUST BOUGHT THE LATEST CELL PHONE… NOW WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR OLD ONE?  WE’RE ANSWERING THE CALL FOR PROPER CELL PHONE DISPOSAL ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION CELL PHONES ARE THROWN OUT EACH YEAR. THIS IS KNOWN AS E-WASTE AND IT CAN HAVE LONG-LASTING EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

THESE PHONES CONTAIN METALS, PLASTICS, AND CHEMICALS THAT CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO HUMANS WHEN THEY CONTAMINATE THE SOIL OR WATER TABLE VIA LANDFILLS.

TO HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, THE EPA HAS INTRODUCED A PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM CALLED “RECYCLE YOUR CELL PHONE: ITS AN EASY CALL,” AIMED AT GETTING CONSUMERS TO REDUCE POLLUTION.

BY LISTING PHONE COLLECTION EVENTS AND DROP-OFF CENTERS ON THEIR WEB SITE - E-P-A DOT GOV SLASH CELL PHONE - THE AGENCY INTENDS TO MAKE E-WASTE AS OUTDATED AS, WELL, THE LAND LINE’S BECOMING!

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Like today's EnvironMinute podcast?  Bookmark this page on del.icio.us