Globe, Bulacan gov't launch cell phone recycling project

MANILA, Philippines - Old cell phones account for nearly 65,000 tons of toxic waste each year, contributing significantly to environmental degradation.

With roughly 2.5 million cell phones and batteries dumped into landfills around the world every week, Globe Telecom and the Bulacan provincial government have decided to expand their joint Green Line anti-pollution project to help address the problem.

The cell phone recycling program was unveiled by Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado and Globe corporate communications head Yoly Crisanto during the recent Globe-initiated Bulacan Youth Summit. It was witnessed by about 2,000 student-participants from the province.

Crisanto said an important role that the youth can play in terms of nation-building is caring for the environment since simple things such as avoiding the use of plastics, planting trees, and even recycling old cell phones will go a long way in saving the environment. 

With new features available every year, a cell phone’s average life is now less then 18 months, adding more than 140 million cell phones and their batteries to the world’s toxic wastes each year, she added.

“Globe recognizes the need for cell phone recycling so we are stepping up our efforts to stop this enormous threat to the environment. In line with our Green Line project in Bulacan, we are accepting old and defective cell phones through our recycling bins deployed in various places,” she said.

The cell phone recycling bins are placed in the provincial capitol and major universities in the province. 

Everything that will be collected will be donated to a facility that will turn them into products such as plates, umbrellas and jewelries.

“Through this initiative, we will be able to convert this waste into useful materials. Recycling mobile phones not only conserves resources but also prevents air and water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,” Crisanto said.

Green Line is a dedicated 24-hour call and text facility where residents and other concerned parties can report violations of environmental laws and policies. 

The first one was launched in Bulacan late last year to revive the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando river system, one of the world’s 30 most polluted places.