The Wireless Foundation’s Call to Protect Initiative
Source: Tom's Guide | Keywords: ewaste, recycle, phones | Themes: The Internet
- 1. Waste Not, Want Not
- 2. Greenphone.com
- 3. The Wireless Foundation’s Call to Protect Initiative
- 4. Toshiba’s ezTrade-in
- 5. Free Geek
3. The Wireless Foundation’s Call to Protect Initiative
The Wireless Foundation’s Call to Protect Initiative
www.wirelessfoundation.org/CalltoProtect
“The Call to Protect campaign collects wireless phones to benefit survivors of domestic violence,” the organization explains on its Website. “Proceeds from the sale of phones help fund agencies that fight domestic violence and are also used to support the educational efforts of the Wireless Foundation. Other phones are refurbished and become lifelines for domestic violence survivors when faced with an emergency situation.”
Perhaps more than any of the other services, the Call to Protect campaign has a direct impact on the lives of at least one individual. For every phone you send to the Wireless Foundation, one woman finds the outlet she needs to extricate herself from a life-threatening and emotionally scarring environment.
Over the years, I’ve donated extensively to this organization, which features kiosks in many major carrier stores and other locations nationwide. And although I don’t know exactly to whom the phones go, nor do I know if they’re being used, millions of phones have been deployed so far, and each one is contributing to the end of domestic violence.
The Wireless Foundation isn’t picky about the phones it receives: It prefers cell phones with batteries and chargers included, but the organization accepts phones of all vintages without chargers and batteries, as well as non-working phones. Just print out the mailing label and send in your phones. You can also print out a tax receipt for your donation.
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AT&T also sponsors a program called Cell Phones for Soldiers, where you can donate used cell phones to be recycled and help pay for prepaid calling cards for our soldiers to call home.
Why isn't my Nokia 3210 in the list on ebay? It's not that old is it?
For those of you that can't figure out what to do with the old stuff, Best Buy in the U.S.A. will accept electronic junk at no charge and ship it to dedicated electronics recyclers. This is not a donation - no charitable tax receipts can be given - but Best Buy can make sure that toasted monitor (hazardous waste) in your basement does not end up in a landfill before it has been properly recycled. Contact a manager at your nearest Best Buy for more details on their recycling program if this sounds like something you could use.
Free Geek isn't just for people in Oregon. People have started Free Geek branches in cities all over North America. I volunteer at Free Geek Vancouver, and we're just as happy to recycle your old junk as the one in Portland.