Recycling Old Cell Phones at the Denver Zoo

Part 3 of A Green Zoo Series by Erin Reilly: In the last 2 articles, I mentioned how the Denver Zoo is the only zoo in the United States with a Sustainable Management System. It is clear that the Denver Zoo has many ways in which they try to maintain a sustainable business. Another of the many ways they do this is through a program described as "answering the call of the wild".

Rather than throw an old cell phone away, guests are encouraged to donate their old cell phones to Denver Zoo, who has partnered with Eco-Cell to recycle and reuse old cell phones", the zoo website says in regard to the program.

Eco-cell is a premiere cell phone recycling program for anyone with an environmentally-minded fundraiser or program. According to the Eco-cell website, Eco-cell is aware that the United States is in an e-waste (or electronic waste) crisis. The program is highly focused on the environment, claiming they have a strict no landfill policy. They accept all cell phones and accessories.

The website (eco-cell.com) states that, "We [Eco-cell] designed a program that encourages organizations to collect all used cell phones and accessories, including batteries. We realized from the start that this approach would take away from our profits. However, we have always maintained that this endeavor is about a lot more than just collecting the 'profitable' used cell phones. It's about cleaning up and helping to save our environment. "

Many people have unused cell phones lying about their house. In fact, in 2005, it was estimated that there were over 500 million cell phones out of use in the United States. So why is this such a big deal? Well, cell phones contain a lot of hazardous substances that can have a negative impact on the environment. One of these hazardous materials is called coltan.

Coltan, according to Wikipedia, is the industrial name for columbite-tantalite, with is a metallic ore of a dull black color from which the elements niobium (formerly "columbium") and tantalum are extracted.

The Denver Zoo website states, "When refined, coltan becomes metallic tantalum, a heat resistant powder that can hold a high electrical charge. These properties make it a vital element in creating capacitors, the electronic elements that control flow inside miniature circuit boards. Tantalum capacitors are used in almost all cell phones, laptops, pagers and other electronic devices."

Where do the phones go after you donate them to the Denver Zoo? About 80% of them will be reused and refurbished by low income users in Latin America or by local programs such as battered women organizations. That 80% also includes senior citizens and other groups like the Sexual Assault Services Organization (SASO) located in Durango, CO. who use the phones for 911 emergencies. Unusable cell phones will be recycled under strict Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines by certified recyclers.

Want more reasons to recycle your phone at the Denver Zoo? The Denver Zoo website states that for each cell phone donated, Eco-Cell will donate $10. The funds raised will help the zoo provide world class care to all of its animal residents.

In addition, you will be helping wildlife in the Congo where a vast majority of coltan is mined. Currently, coltan is being mined illegally in protected lands across the Congo, which is endangering the local wildlife.

The next time you visit the Denver Zoo, consider answering the call of the wild by donating your unwanted or unused cell phone at the guest services desk.