Cell Phones for Soldiers
Thanks to thousands of cell phone users across the nation, AT&T and Cell Phones for Soldiers (CPFS) have reached a new peak. Since Earth Day (April 22) 2008, the Dallas-based telecom company and CPFS have recycled more than 2.5 million cell phones, surpassing this year’s goal by more than 700,000 wireless devices.
By recycling used cell phones, CPFS is able to purchase free phone cards for America’s overseas troops. Since Earth Day 2008, AT&T and the charity have asked wireless subscribers from various carriers to donate unused cell phones. The goal was to gather no less than 1.8 million phones by Earth Day 2009 – double the amount of cell phones that CPFS collected in 2008.
Only 10% of all wireless devices disposed of become recycled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ReCellular, CPFS’s recycling partner, estimates that by recycling 2.5 million cell phones, AT&T and CPFS have stopped more than 153 tons of e-waste from settling in America’s landfills. 153 tons is the environmental equivalent of:
- Saving enough energy to power more than 7,700 American homes for an entire year.
- Removing the greenhouse gas emissions of more than 5,540 passenger cars from the nation’s roads for an entire year.
- Preventing more than 4 tons of toxic materials from entering landfills.
“At AT&T, we know that if we make wireless recycling even easier for our customers—and all wireless users—they can do more of it,” stated Ralph de la Vega, AT&T President and Chief Executive Officer. “The response we’ve seen in the past year is a great example of the kind of contagious enthusiasm our customers have for supporting the environment and the men and women serving our country.”
If you would like to donate a wireless device to CPFS, please visit www.att.com/recyclewireless to find your nearest AT&T store.