The American Legion Post 205 of Augusta along with over 30 businesses in and around the city are pleased to announce the project called “Cell Phones for Soldiers.” During the month of November, businesses and residents are encourages to recycle their unused, outdated or broken cell phones. All of the cell phones will be sold to ReCellular and the proceeds are then used to purchase calling cards that are given to U.S. military personnel serving around the world.

More than 150,000 troops are serving overseas and are away from their families. The drive is to help make it possible for our military personnel to stay in touch with loved ones. By donating old cell phones, it’s an easy and meaningful way for everyone to support our troops. Also at the same time, it protects our environment by keeping the high level of toxic metals cell phones contain out of our landfills.

The goal is to deliver at least 5,000 hours of free calling time. Members of American Legion Post 205 will collect phones from their members and at participating businesses. Local residents can support the collection drive anytime during November by donating their old phones in specially-marked boxes.  See list of collection points here.

Approximately half of the phones ReCellular processes are reconditioned and resold to wholesale companies in over 40 countries around the world. Phones and components that cannot by refurbished are dismantled and recycled to reclaim materials, including: Gold, silver, and platinum from circuit boards; copper wiring from phone chargers; nickel, iron, cadmium and lead from battery packs; and plastic from phone cases and accessories.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, electronic waste (e-waste) is accumulating almost three times faster than ordinary household trash. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University estimate that at lease 60 million PCs have already been buried in U.S. landfills. If Americans recycled 100 million phones, we could save enough upstream energy to power more than 194,000 U.S. households for a year. Recycling your cell phones makes sense, just a million cell phones reduces greenhouse gas emission equal to taking 1,368 cars off the road for a year.

So help us support Cell Phones for Soldiers by recycling your old phones now.

Thank you.