University Times

An estimated 500 million cell phones are stored in homes across the United States, unused and taking up space. The University, in conjunction with local electronics recycling firm eLoop, aims to do its part to properly recycle these unwanted phones in a way that keeps cell phone waste (which can contain lead, mercury and other toxins) out of landfills. eLoop estimates that only 2 percent of all cell phones are properly recycled.

Computing Services and Systems Development (CSSD) is leading a collection of cell phones, other mobile devices and accessories through June 5 in partnership with eLoop’s “Last Call” phone recycling initiative.

The Last Call initiative aims to collect 1 million phones in its six-week campaign that began on Earth Day (April 22) and runs through World Environment Day (June 5). According to eLoop, phones are sorted for destruction or refurbishment. Phones collected in the Last Call program are recycled in an environmentally conscious fashion with all personal data securely destroyed.

CSSD director Jinx Walton said the University was approached by eLoop and decided to participate. “We are looking at green initiatives. We thought this was a good opportunity to see what kind of response we got,” Walton said. “We estimated we could probably collect a couple hundred [devices].”

In the first two weeks of the collection, 47 cell phones and 20 chargers have been collected.

The University receives a small amount of cash for each pound of material collected, but the program mainly is designed to build awareness of the negative environmental impact of cell phone waste, Walton said.

The cell phone collection is likely to be repeated periodically, she said. “Every time a new device comes out people want to upgrade.”

Collection boxes are located in campus computing labs, Hillman Library, the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, Software Licensing Services, the University Book Center, William Pitt Union, Craig Hall and the Towers lobby.

Additional information on the program is available at technology.pitt.edu.

—Kimberly K. Barlow