Mobile Phone Recycling Day
International Mobile Phone Recycling Day was created in 2015 by the Jane Goodall Institute. Its intention was to raise awareness about the negative impacts of smartphone consumerism on the primates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other developing countries. Most technology companies receive crucial metals for their products from mines, which has resulted in large casualties, increased criminality, and environmental degradation of prime gorilla habitats.
International Mobile Phone Recycling Day falls on January 24th every year. This holiday aims to raise awareness about the importance of recycling mobile phones and reducing e-waste.
The history of mobile phone recycling can be traced back to the early 2000s when mobile phones became more widely used and people started to realize the impact of electronic waste on the environment. With millions of unused or discarded mobile phones ending up in landfills, there was a growing need for more sustainable solutions for recycling these devices.
See also: Fairphone Demonstrates the Dramatic Impact of Making Things That Last.
Over time, International Mobile Phone Recycling Day has grown in popularity and is now observed in many countries around the world. Organizations use this day to host events and initiatives aimed at collecting and recycling old mobile phones, as well as educating people on how they can reduce their e-waste.
Recycling mobile phones not only prevents them from ending up in landfills, but it also helps to conserve natural resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Many of the materials used to make mobile phones, such as precious metals, plastics, and glass, can be reused or repurposed.
If you have an old mobile phone that you no longer use, consider recycling it on International Mobile Phone Recycling Day. There are many organizations and programs that offer free or low-cost mobile phone recycling services, and taking this small step can go a long way in protecting the environment and conserving natural resources for future generations.
How to celebrate it
- Find a recycling facility near you.
- Participate in The Forest is Calling pledge by extending the life of their mobile device by keeping it for longer than the two-year average or recycle your unwanted mobile devices.
Fun Facts:
- In 2004, the state of California passed the Cell Phone Recycling Act, which makes it compulsory for cell phone retailers to collect cell phones from consumers for safe disposal and recycling.
- There are over 7.2 billion mobile phones in the world.
- Gold, silver and other precious metals worth roughly $60 million are contained in mobile phones being discarded.
- Recycling your mobile phone removes these items from the waste stream and also reduces the demand for extraction of resources from the habitats that many species call home.
International Mobile Phone Recycling Day
