Cell phones and other handheld electronic devices contain a material called tantalum that is derived from the mineral Col-Tan (columbite-tantalite). Coltan is destructively mined in central Africa, which happens to be where animals like chimpanzees, gorillas, mandrills and okapi live.
By recycling cell phones, YOU can help animals like gorillas, chimpanzees and okapis by reducing the demand for new materials to be mined. Suffield High School’s Interact Club is sponsoring an electronic handheld collection event throughout Suffield. Locked bins will be placed at the Kent Memorial Library and Town Hall and at Suffield on the Green to collect your old Cell phones, Smart phones, iPods or other MP3 players, iPads or other tablets, WIFI hot spots, handheld gaming devices, GPS, Electronic accessories such as chargers, blue tooth headsets, etc.
Cell phones and their accessories contain a large number of hazardous substances and toxic materials. These toxins include arsenic, beryllium, cadmium and lead. When thrown away, these electronics make their way to landfills where these contaminates can leach into the ground and waterways contaminating natural resources and polluting wildlife habitat.
Clean out those old devices from your home and help preserve our planet!