People urged to donate old mobile phones

GO has teamed up with the Jesuit community in a campaign called ‘A New Life for your Old Mobile Phone’ that involves the collection of old mobile phones in aid of Jesuit projects in Africa.

In line with the drive, GO this morning launched an an appeal to customers not to leave their dead mobile phones just sitting around  every time they upgrade their phones - which people do every 18 months on average! 

Old mobile phones taken to GO outlets and exclusive resellers will be donated to the organisers of the collection campaign and sold for recycling to raise funds for two Jesuit projects. One project involves helping Jesuits in Kenya to run Nyumbani – the orphanage for children who lost their parents to the AIDS pandemic. Orphans are cared for and educated at Nyumbani and in addition, HIV-affected children at the orphanage are given medical treatment. The other project aims to provide solar-powered stoves to poor African families in Chad – saving the women miles of walking to fetch firewood and at the same time protecting the rapidly-deteriorating environment.

Addressing a news conference on the recycling of old mobile phones, GO CEO David Kay said: “Besides the philanthropic aspect of our involvement in this campaign, we are delighted to be part of the recycling initiative of mobile phones which in itself is an ideal way to protect the environment and go green.”

“Millions of unwanted mobile phones are either awaiting disposal in users’ homes or seeping hazardous materials including lead, mercury, cadmium – and even arsenic – into the environment.”

“Yet only 10 to 15% are being recycled in the world today while the rest, for the most part, end up in the litter bin causing tons of toxic waste that adversely affect the air we breathe and the water we drink. The good news is that when phones find their way to recycle centres they can be refurbished and put to good use. Many mobile phone parts are instrumental in the manufacture of new units while the gold, silver and platinum contained in the phones can be reused,” he said.

“It is good to know that what is superfluous or not useful can be a life-saving gift for a brother or sister in Africa. Our physical environment will be cleaner too through our recycling efforts,” said Fr. Paul Chetcuti sj who heads the campaign. He thanked GO for its support and expressed his gratitude to all those who had donated mobiles so far, encouraging members of the public to follow suit.

George Pullicino, Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment commended the Jesuit campaign particularly noting the eco-friendly aspect of the initiative. He congratulated GO on taking an active part in the mobile recycling campaign and supporting other local events with an environmental-friendly focus.