Cell Phone Recycling Program
Drop your old and used cell phones at Lyon or Pleasant Ridge
and help with the environment and raise money for the schools by participating in Motorola's Race to Recycle !
Why recycle phones?
Because there are 150 million mobile phone subscribers in the U.S. today, and 100 million will upgrade their phones this year!
Cell phones that are not thrown away properly may leak toxic substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium into our water supply.
How much money can our school raise?
Each intact phone will earn our school $3.00. The school can receive up to $21,000 per calendar year, less shipping and box fees. The $3.00 payment per phone is guaranteed through May 31st, 2006. The $3.00 may be subject to change after this date.
Do we get a payment for a broken phone?
The phone must be intact. The display on the phone must not be cracked; the hinge should be in working condition on a flip phone; the internal board of the phone must not be exposed. Smashed or partial phones will not qualify for a payment.
What about phones that are not intact, cell phone batteries and accessories?
Motorola will collect these items for recycling. But, there is no additional donation.
What happens to information stored in the cell phones?
Information is not deleted. We recommend that you encourage those participating in the program to delete any personal data or information from the phone before turning it in. For step-by-step instructions see Motorola's help file.
What happens to the collected phones?
Motorola will analyze all phones turned in by the schools. Phones that are old, damaged or have little value are sent for recycling. These phones are smelted. Materials such as silver, palladium and copper are recovered. Plastics are burned off as fuel. The smelting process is a clean process where no ash is released into air or ground water systems. No materials from this process end up in municipal landfills. Phones that have value will be resold. The resold phones fund the payment to the schools.
Other questions? Contact Cheryl Kasner, Ways & Means Chair.
