Recycle Your Old Phone The Next Time You Shop
Everybody knows that recycling paper, aluminum, plastic and cardboard helps lessen waste, creating a cleaner, healthier society.
However, did you know that it is also important to recycle your cell phones? Cell phones contain hazardous substances, similar to any other electronic device, and can damage our environment. In fact, there is more gold in a ton of cell phones than in 20 tons of ore from a gold mine!
Also, everyday Americans retire 365,000 cell phones. Therefore, if you get a new phone this holiday season, be sure to recycle your old one at Valley Natural Foods! Yes, at Valley Natural Foods you can not only drop of your phone for recycling but save the rainforest too. No, we are not joking on this one!
Our store now has a Minnesota Zoo cell phone recycling drop off box located by the entrance of the store. All working phones collected are refurbished for resale or donation to charity. Non-working phones are sent for refining where the metals are recovered and reused in new products. The proceeds collected are sent to the Minnesota Zoo for support of rainforest conservation efforts in Africa. In the early 2000’s, cell phones utilized the mineral tantalum which led to a large increase in illegal mining in the rainforests of the Democractic Republic of Congo. The habitats of thousands of wild animals, including endangered species, were destroyed.
Rainforest conservation fits in well with Valley Natural Foods’ mission of sustainability, supporting fair trade and humane farming practices locally and globally.
If you are interested in donating your phone, please make sure you terminate the service or switch your contract to a new phone. Also be sure to clear any personal data manually or simply remove your SIM card. If your battery is still charged, please make sure the phone is switched off.
Now it is time to look through your drawers and see if you can find any old cell phones and then you need to remember to bring them in the next time you shop! We appreciate your donation!