Cell phone recycling money donated to green initiatives

Since 2004 Cellcom has offered a cell phone recycling program where customers can bring in their old or unwanted phones to be reused and recycled. Cellcom sends the phones to recyclers who in return send money to Cellcom for the materials that were saved from the phones. Cellcom donates this money back to local non-profits.

For the first time, Cellcom is donating their recycling funds to green non-profit initiatives in an effort to complete the green cycle that starts with consumers being environmentally-conscious and donating their devices. Eight green gifts totaling $25,250 were given yesterday at a 100 year anniversary event.

“We are constantly taking steps to become more eco-friendly as a company,” said Brighid Riordan, director of public affairs. “By shifting our recycling money to green initiatives, Cellcom continues our longstanding commitment to the community and together we can work toward a greener tomorrow.”

The green gifts, which were presented on Monday, September 20, went to non-profits throughout Cellcom’s service area. Green Bay Botanical Gardens, The Community's Garden (Sturgeon Bay), Wausau School Forest, Camp Tekawitha (Shawano), the Environment Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin (Stevens Point), 1000 Islands Environmental Center (Kaukauna), Menominee River Monitoring (Marinette), and the Paine Art Center and Gardens Education Fund (Oshkosh) all received a portion of the donation.

Cellcom’s recycling program has generated $75,000 for local charities over the past six years.