The UAE public has stepped up and answered a call from EnviroFone by recycling 100,000 old or broken mobile phones in time for Eid al Fitr.
The enormous collection of mobile handsets have been deposited in drop boxes across the Emirates but the target to receive 250,000 recycled phones by the end of the year is still to be achieved.
If each phone collected was placed one on top of the other, the tower of handsets would reach around 10,000m, almost 20 times that of the current height of the Burj Dubai and more than 100m higher than Mount Everest. Laid flat on the ground, the phones would stretch for 10km, just one kilometer short of the length of The Crescent which circles The Palm Jumeirah.
EnviroFone launched the campaign to protect the environment from contaminated and harmful toxins found in mobile phones and accessories in mid-June, under the patronage of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).
It was developed in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Environment & Water, telecommunications companies Etisalat and du, and the charity Gulf for Good. The public was asked to deposit unwanted mobile phones at 270 drop boxes across the UAE, and in return earn instant rewards, and have the chance to win prizes including air tickets to London.
Drop boxes are located at ENOC petrol stations in Dubai, all ADNOC petrol stations in Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates, Etisalat and du business centres, Al Rostamani currency exchange houses, Spinneys supermarkets, Magrudy’s Book Stores, FedEx locations in the UAE, Mall of the Emirates, Deira City Center, Sharjah City Center, Ajman City Center and Lamcy Plaza.
Despite the initial success of the EnviroFone campaign, much more is needed to be done by the UAE public. It is estimated that up to ten million old, broken and unused mobile phones are hidden away in drawers when they could be recycled. The number of phones donated is only 1 per cent of the number estimated to be unused.
If old or broken phones are carelessly discarded, they can leak toxins into the ground which spread disease. Elements such as beryllium, cadmium, lithium, mercury, silver and even gold are contained in a single mobile phone. For every phone donated, five dirhams is given to UAE charity, Gulf for Good.
Stuart Fleming, Managing Director of EnviroFone, said: “This has been a fantastic push by the UAE public, and it is especially rewarding news as we celebrate Eid al Fitr. But we still have a long way to go to reach our target of 250,000 mobiles phones for recycling by the end of the year. Dig out your old phones, encourage your friends to do likewise, and post them in the drop boxes. You’ll be helping yourself and your environment. It’s the best call you can make with your mobile phone.”
Those disposing of unwanted phones in the drop boxes earn instant rewards such as a money off Etisalat and du bills and pre-paid cards, discounts at Japan Furniture Store and Magrudy’s book stores, and free transactions at Al Rostamani exchange houses. They also go into a raffle for monthly prizes such as Virgin Atlantic return tickets to London, and thousands of Air Miles which can be redeemed for a wide range of rewards.
© 2007 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
