Help protect endangered chimpanzees, gorillas, and their habitat by using your existing mobile phone for longer and recycling it when it has reached the end of its useful life.
Why is it important?
Mobile phones contain minerals such as gold, cobalt, tungsten, tin, and coltan. Mining for these minerals in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo drives illegal bushmeat hunting, destroys crucial chimpanzee and gorilla habitat, and has been the cause of human conflict.
By 2020 it’s estimated that 3.6 billion smartphones will be in circulation worldwide. With an average lifespan of 2 years before upgrade or replacement, the number of unwanted devices potentially entering the waste stream has and will continue to grow dramatically.
However, 99% of materials can be recovered when mobile devices are recycled.
What is the solution?
Recycling old and unwanted devices can both reduce the need for new minerals to be mined and help raise funds to support JGI’s work to protect endangered chimpanzees and gorillas in EDRC.
In addition to recycling old and unwanted devices, buying a secondhand device or extending your phone's lifespan beyond the average of two years will also help reduce the pressure of mining on ape populations.
What can you do?
You can get involved by donating your unwanted phones, tablets, and associated accessories on behalf of JGIA. Simply collect 10 or more devices then arrange a free courier collection by completing the online request form. The more devices you donate, the greater your impact, so remember to check drawers and cupboards for old or broken devices, and ask family, friends, co-workers, and classmates if they have any devices you can donate on their behalf. You can also set up a collection station where people can deposit their unwanted devices at your school or workplace.
All donated devices will be data wiped then either refurbished and resold by our reuse partner PhoneCycle or dismantled and recycled by our recycling partner MobileMuster. These organisations will then donate the money raised to JGIA, which will be used to support the work of Dr Jane Goodall by funding our conservation programs in EDRC.
Will You Answer the Call?
Arrange free courier collection
Recycling your unwanted devices can both reduce the need for mining in crucial great ape habitat and help raise funds to support JGI’s work to protect chimps and gorillas
The collective action of all of us extending the life of our phones and recycling them when they have reached the end of their useful life will have a greater impact on lessening the amount of waste being produced and the amount of new mineral ore that needs to be mined. Keeping these minerals in the ground will help protect endangered great apes and their habitats.
Contact recycle@janegoodall.org.au for questions about our campaign.
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