Recycle Your Cell Phone at the Zoo

We all recycle newspapers, bottles, and soda cans. But did you know you can recycle your cell phone—and help FONZ and wildlife at the same time?

250,000 Tons of Toxic Material

With such toxic contents as arsenic, antimony, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, and zinc, cell phone and accessory waste poses a serious threat to the environment and human health. The ever-increasing number of cell phone users and rapid turnover of phones are putting a vast amount of harmful materials in landfills. It is estimated that 700 million cell phones—250,000 tons of toxic material—have been "retired" in the Unites States alone.

Threats to Wildlife

Additionally, the mining of coltan, which is used to coat components of cell phones, poses a great threat to endangered eastern lowland gorillas and African elephants. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, coltan miners have destroyed the animals' habitat and killed them for bushmeat. The U.N. has reported the gorilla population in this area has been devastated in recent years. Reducing the demand for coltan will help save these animals and their habitat.

How You Can Help

FONZ has partnered with ECO-Cell to collect and recycle Zoo visitors' cell phones, batteries, and accessories. Working cell phones will be refurbished and donated to low-income people abroad and selected local organizations, such as battered women’s programs. ECO-Cell will pay FONZ up to $15 for every working cell phone. All other phones and accessories will be recycled under EPA guidelines, keeping hazardous materials from reaching landfills and harming human and environmental health.

Help protect African wildlife and the environment—bring your used cell phone to the Zoo's Visitor Center and drop it in the collection box at the front desk. Encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to drop off their phones at the Zoo, too.

Get your employer involved by calling us at 202.633.3043. We will arrange for a collection box and/or prepaid envelopes to be delivered to your office.

Your phone will help FONZ support the National Zoo's mission to celebrate, study, and protect animals and their habitats.

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