Recycle Your Old Cell Phone

A used cell phone and ink cartridge collection is underway sponsored by the Bee Proud Bee Clean organization. If you have a used cell phone collecting dust somewhere in your home or office now is the time to see that it is disposed in an environmentally friendly way. If you are like most Americans, chances are you probably do--the average American replaces his or her cell phone every 12 months. The result is that Americans discard more than 130 million used cell phones a year. That’s four cell phones per second! All of which adds up to 65,000 tons of potentially toxic waste generated annually.

Bee Proud Bee Clean in cooperation with EcoPhones, a Texas cell phone recycler, seeks to address this growing concern while simultaneously raising money for its community projects. In the Cell Phone Recycling Fundraiser, the group is paid for each digital cell phone collected. EcoPhones refurbishes and resells cell phones that have value and recycle the remainder in accordance with EPA regulations. Used printer ink cartridges are also being collected. This is the groups second cell phone recycling effort. The first held in the Spring was considered very successful for a first time effort.

Cell phone and ink cartridge collection boxes are available at the Bee County Tax Assessor-Collectors Office located at 411 E. Houston, Beeville. Used cell phones and ink cartridges (those that will fit in the palm of your hand ONLY) may be dropped off during regular office hours at that location. This recycling effort will end on December 31 so the public is asked to make their donations as soon as possible. For more information on the cell phone and ink cartridge recycling program please call 375-2558. -- Submitted by Elizabeth Villines