Got an old, broken or unwanted phone collecting dust in a drawer somewhere, ready to never be used as a spare phone when new ones are so cheap? And want to help feed the needy?
It seems just about every has an old phone lying around somewhere, whether completely broken, or just a little rough around the edges, and no longer as cool as it once was.
Maybe you’ve finally upgraded to the latest model, or maybe your old phone or phones are simply old, broken, and unwanted.
If so, you're not alone - there are millions of such mobile phones sitting in people's homes and offices, never to be used again, but crying out to be recycled into something different, something new, something better, and something true to the spirit of recycling.
{loadposition alex08}Mobile Muster tells us that, around Australia, "there are almost 5 million old mobile phones which are no longer working, along with their chargers and accessories, begging to be lifted out of the junk drawer and be put to better use, which is exactly what Australians can do this summer."
So, what are Mobile Muster and OzHarvest doing - again?
Well, both are not for profit organisations who have "teamed up to give Australians a great reason to recycle their old phone, because this summer for every mobile recycled they will deliver a meal to someone in need."
The campaign is called "Mobile for a Meal," and it "returns for a second year after a hugely successful recycling drive last summer, where 60,000 meals were delivered simply by people recycling their old mobile."
This year, both organisations are "aiming to recycle 70,000 and help deliver 70,000 meals to those in need."
Spyro Kalos, Recycling Manager at MobileMuster said: "It is one of those beautiful win-win situations where no one wants these old phones - you can’t use them, or sell them - they are quite literally useless, but if we recycle them over 99% of the material can go back into making new products. In return, we will deliver a meal to someone in need.
“It’s important to remember that mobile phones are not biodegradable, and they contain substances and materials that can potentially harm the environment,”
"And, it’s very easy to recycle your old mobile phone when it comes to the end of its life as there are over 3,500 public collection points around Australia,” Kalos added.
OzHarvest’s Founder, Ronni Kahn, said the demand for food is on the rise.
“There are now more than 3.6 million people experiencing food insecurity each year. At OzHarvest we are doing our best to deliver good, nutritious food to people in need, but many agencies say they could take double to keep up with demand. With as little as $1 we can deliver 2 meals, so make sure you give your old mobile a new purpose.”
So, how do you get involved in the Mobile for a Meal campaign?
It's simple:
- Go to the Mobile Muster website and find your nearest place to recycle
- Drop off your mobile along with any chargers and accessories into the MobileMuster recycling unit
- Or download a reply-paid label from the MobileMuster website and post it back for free
- Just make sure you recycle before the end of February 2018 to be a part of Mobile for a Meal
“When you recycle let us know by posting a photo of you and your old mobile on Facebook or Instagram, then use the hashtag #mobileforameal so all your friends can also get involved and do some good this summer,” Kalos concluded.
For more go to the Mobile Muster website and to read the Terms and Conditions.
