St. Thomas University wants your old cell phones. In celebration of Waste Reduction Week in Canada, STU is competing in a nation-wide contest to recycle as many phones as possible.
Based on population, the school with the greatest number will win $500 to go towards a “green initiative.”
Only 12 per cent of mobilized cells are recycled in Canada. Kyla Tanner, students’ union sustainable lifestyles coordinator, hopes this number will increase with education. She says this challenge will help contribute to that goal.
“About 96 per cent of an average cell phone can be recycled,” she said.
Nancy O’Shea, director of student life and retention, brought the idea to Tanner. Tanner says they thought it was a great way to help the environment and it was easy because someone else does the recycling.
Students seem to think it’s a good idea.
“Each year a new one is released, and each year people go out of their way to have the newest most up to date technology. I know my mom has a drawer full of old cell phones and their chargers, and it’s like, what else can you do but store them away since you’re not supposed to throw them out with the trash and you can’t just toss them in with your everyday recyclables,” Dijonna Brooks, STU student said.
So far there have been at least five cell phones turned into the Help Desk for the challenge. Tanner says the probable reason for such a low outcome is people don’t realize cell phones can be recycled or for they think they should keep around their old cell phones just in case.
Tanner said recycling cell phones is important and useful to reducing waste.
When the recycling companies get the phone, if it’s in good condition then it will be refurbished and if not they are still able to salvage certain parts. By using these recycled parts, the companies reduce the use of raw materials. This helps the environment as well as the companies.
“Technology can help but it has to be done in a responsible way. I think it is the companies’ responsibility especially with the appropriate use of raw material… but also it is the responsibility of the consumer. For example, instead of throwing away your cell phone, you can recycle it.”
To increase contribution to this contest, the students’ union will add the person’s name to a draw when he or she donates an old cell phone. The draw is to win a $50 gift card for Boston Pizza. She hopes this will give initiative for students. Also, she’s putting up new posters and emailing students to let them know.
The contest began on Oct. 15 and runs until Nov. 15. With less than two weeks left, Tanner is hopeful students will bring in their old cell phones.
“The winner will be announced in January but the contest ends November 15th. I will ship out the cells sometime in December.”
She’s unsure what project they would use the money for, but Tanner is excited for the opportunity it will bring to STU.
