Recycle your mobile phone, save a gorilla

Did you know that your mobile phone contains the metal coltan, 80% of which is located in Africa, in particular the Democratic Republic of Congo, home for the Mountain Gorilla and the Eastern Lowland Gorilla? (Jane Goodall Institute)

Coltan is used in to coat the capacitors in mobile phones and the mining of this metal is having a devastating effect on Gorilla habitat.

Eastern Regional Libraries is joining the Calling on You campaign by offering our libraries as a drop off point to recycle your mobile phone. Funds raised from recycling of the phones will be donated by Zoos Victoria to primate conservation.

We'll be sending out recycling boxes and posters to the branches soon.

While I'm discussing recycling we are still collecting corks and thanks to all of our members that support the Corks for Elephants campaign. Friends of the Zoos volunteers regularly pick up the corks and these are recycled for floor tiles, place mats, cores for cricket and hockey balls, and non-slip surfaces. Even though the Elephants have a new enclosure, the funds raised are used for ongoing needs of the elephants.

The Calling on You campaign is a joint project of Zoos Victoria, Aussie Recycling Program and Jane Goodall Institute.

Cheers, Maryanne

Mobile phone recycling

Eastern Regional Libraries is now a deposit station for mobile phone recycling. Knox, Croydon and Ringwood branches have special boxes in which members may deposit their old phones. Mobile phones dropped off at our other Eastern Regional Libraries branches will be sent to our Administration.

The mobile phones are sent to SCOPE/Aussie Recycling Program where they are recorded, sorted, tested, repaired if necessary and then exported to developing countries. All phones are accepted, even analogue phones.

Mobile phones contain toxic chemicals and do not degrade in the environment. They should not be thrown in the rubbish.

More information on the Mobile Recycling program may be found at the SCOPE/ARP Don't dump it! Donate it! site.

Cheers, Maryanne