Recycled Cell Phones and PDAs Earn Global Cooling ‘Carbon Credits’
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Unique “RecyCool” Program Helps Reduce Global Warming, Offset the Effects of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Recycle Unwanted Cell Phones, Smartphones, PDAs and Handheld Devices
Toronto, Ontario, July 22, 2008 – The Wireless Source, Canada (and affiliates: PhoneBack Canada, The Charitable Recycling Program, and Wireless CellBack) and Carbonfund.org today announced the launch of a new and unique program – RecyCool – integrating cell phone recycling with the battle against climate change.
RecyCool makes it easy and affordable for any business, event or organization to reduce or eliminate its climate impact by recycling used mobile phones.
RecyCool captures pre-owned cell phone value for reuse and lets partners and participants exchange this value for certified carbon offsets to help:
• Lighten their carbon footprint
• Combat climate change
• Reduce the effects of greenhouse gas emissions
The burning of fossil fuels produces greenhouse gasses that trap heat, creating a greenhouse effect that is warming the Earth. Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing global society. We all need to make every effort to reduce our emissions as much as we can and to offset the remainder. As Carbonfund.org says: “Reduce What You Can, Offset What You Can’t™”.
While we can all change our habits and activities to reduce our carbon footprint, there is only so much we can reduce. That’s where carbon offsets can help. Carbon offsets are simple. We are all responsible for harmful carbon dioxide emissions, whether through driving, flying in an airplane, heating and cooling our homes and offices, watching TV, running a business, or going to a concert. Carbon offsets represent the act of reducing an equal amount of carbon elsewhere in the world to counterbalance the carbon emissions from our own energy-using activities (our “carbon footprint”). By supporting projects that reduce carbon dioxide emissions, carbon offsets enable us to reduce our climate impact and balance out the carbon footprint left by our emissions.
The RecyCool Program provides two smart and simple ways to earn carbon credits with recycled cell phones, smartphones, and PDAs in order to help reduce our carbon footprint and work towards becoming carbon neutral:
‘Ten-For-A-Tonne’: Collects used wireless devices donated by consumers and community members as part of a concert, conference, or event, at a drop-off location, at an office recycling day, or from a door-to-door collection campaign. A carbon offset of 1 tonne is earned for every 10 functional digital phones recovered.
Handset Exchange For Climate Change: This program is designed for enterprises, businesses, government offices, and departments and large organizations that often have large quantities of late-model phones that are regularly upgraded or replaced. Owners and managers can receive substantial carbon offsets in exchange for these late-model wireless handsets, depending on the specific make, model, and condition of the phones. A high reuse value means that a single handset could earn as much as 1, 2 or 3 tonnes (or more) of carbon offset, helping to reduce the carbon footprint of business operations and activities.
“The Wireless Source, Canada and affiliates are very concerned about global warming. Considering the implications of climate change, carbon offsets through Carbonfund.org are a natural extension of our work in the pre-owned wireless telecommunications handset recovery, remanufacture and reuse sector,” said Gordon Weis, President of The Wireless Source, Canada. “The RecyCool Program establishes our businesses as environmental leaders and demonstrates the proactive steps we are taking in the fight against global climate change.”
“We are extremely excited to partner with The Wireless Source, Canada and its affiliates PhoneBack Canada, The Charitable Recycling Program, and Wireless CellBack in the development of the first-of-its-kind RecyCool Program,” said Eric Carlson, Founder and Executive Director of Carbonfund.org. “By recovering and recycling pre-owned cell phones—things everyone has, doesn’t want anymore, but doesn’t know what to do with—many groups, activities, events, and businesses can easily help reduce their carbon footprint, strive for carbon neutrality, and combat climate change at little or no cost.”
The RecyCool Program is a unique and effective ‘triple sustainability’ initiative for all Canadians
Environmental Responsibility … Social Responsibility … Financial & Global Climate Responsibility
About The Wireless Source, Canada
The Wireless Source, Canada (TWSC), the Canadian division of The Wireless Source—a global leader in the reuse and recycling of mobile devices—specializes in used and pre-owned cell phone remanufacturing and remarketing. Services include reverse logistics, recovery, trade-in, rebate, and recycling programs for the ‘wireless’ industry (dealers, carriers, and handset OEMs) as well as for businesses, retailers, charities, and consumers. Through our sister enterprise, PhoneBack Canada, we also provide The Charitable Recycling Program, which enables cell phone recycling and fundraising for local charities, community activities, and groups and businesses. PhoneBack Canada is also the ‘enabling’ partner for several privately branded national recycling programs. An additional program, Wireless CellBack, is strategically designed to recover pre-owned, late-model devices using a make/model value database for organizations, enterprises, and wireless retailers and dealers.
The Wireless Source, ISO 14001 certified for environmental management and assurance, is one of a handful of full-service, vertically integrated cell phone recycling companies and stands among the largest of such companies in North America. Testing, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and remarketing are done ‘in-house,’ with complete chain of custody and assurance of information security and responsible handset disposition.
Established in 2003, Carbonfund.org is one of North America’s oldest and leading carbon reduction and offset organizations, making it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses, and organizations to reduce their climate impact. Carbon offsets enable individuals and businesses to reduce carbon dioxide emissions they are responsible for in their everyday lives by investing in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and reforestation projects where they are most cost effective. “Reduce What You Can, Offset What You Can’t™”.
Carbonfund.org has worked with hundreds of corporate and non-profit partners including the Consumer Electronics Association, Discovery, Volkswagen, Dell, Orbitz, JetBlue Airways, Environmental Defense, Lancome, Amtrak, Allstate, Staples, Earthwatch Institute, National Wildlife Federation, Social Venture Network, Green Building Council, and many more.