Hopefully, you already know that recycling your old electronic devices helps mitigate conflict over minerals in the chimpanzee habitat of the Congo Basin. If you don’t, you can get a more in-depth explanation in our blog post, Why You Should Recycle Your Cell Phone. For those ready to take action but not quite sure how, this is the post for you.
On January 26, 2016, the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) will celebrate its second annual International Mobile Phone Recycling Day. The day is a “Call to Action,” shared by all of the JGI offices around the globe — many which have been leading mobile phone recycling programs in their countries for many years. In the United States, for example, JGI partners with Eco-Cell to recycle old electronics.
For those in the U.S., the process is simple. You can register for a free JGI collection box on our website here. You can then begin collecting cell phones, cell phone accessories, iPods and MP3 players, handheld game systems, GPS handheld units, E-readers and portable hard drives. Once you’ve collected your first batch of electronics, you can request a free shipping label from Eco-Cell and send the box to them.
Not only will you be reducing the demand for minerals, and reducing deforestation, but all proceeds from the recycling process will go to JGI to fund community-centered conservation and chimpanzee protection in the Congo Basin and East Africa. Those who want to do more can organize a recycling campaign in their community in order to spread the word about the Call to Action and gather as many devices as possible.
Every device contains valuable minerals that can be reused, and therefore matters. Important habitat for wildlife had to be cleared to get those minerals too. You can also help spread the word be joining JGI’s Thunderclap on social media and by sharing our Call to Action website along with the hashtag #CallToAction16. And finally, remember that while January 26 is the International Mobile Phone Recycling Day, you can save and recycle your old electronics through JGI and our partners year-round!
