21/01/2002

Charity appeal to turn unwanted mobiles into cash

Help the Aged is issuing an appeal to anyone considering an office spring clean to make sure old and unwanted mobile phones are not thrown away – as they could be used to benefit those in need.

If mobile are not disposed of carefully, harmful substances in the phones will eventually contaminate the soil and water supply if they end their life on a landfill site. However, the charity can turn them into money that will help fund schemes for the poor, isolated and disadvantaged.

During April, Help the Aged will be running its campaign – the ‘Ring in Spring’ Appeal - to get businesses to donate their unwanted phones. As much as £50,000 could be raised through British businesses unearthing redundant mobile phones, as only 250 offices a week need to collect five mobiles each to meet this target.

Esther Moore, recycling account manager at the charity, explained: “There are around 30 million mobiles no longer being used. Each of these phones could be recycled into cash and could be helping an older person in need rather than cluttering homes and offices.”

Help the Aged will also accept very old or broken phones and ensure that they are disposed of in an environmentally friendly way if they have no value on the second-hand phone market.

For further information call 0870 770 3287 or visit www.helptheaged.org.uk (CL)

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