Metech Starting Cell Phone Recycling Program

Metech International has launched a new program in North America allowing consumers to send their old mobile phones for recycling through the mail.

Jim Gardner, market development manager at Metech, explained the initiative aimed to reduce pressures on landfill by reducing the waste stream and protect the environment from potentially harmful materials such as heavy metals.

'Mobile phones contain toxic materials such as lead and cadmium. Given the large number of cell phones discarded every year, even trace amounts of harmful materials pose a real hazard.'

Mobile phones may contain precious metals such as platinum and palladium, as well as plastics and glass, which will be recovered through the recycling program for reuse in other applications.

Through Metech's recycling program, all of these materials are reclaimed for reuse in other applications, and any remaining hazardous waste is disposed of through an authorized handling facility, so nothing ends up in a landfill.

Metech will not charge for its consumer cell phone recycling service. Users are asked to place the phone in an envelope, address it to Metech, and mail it to the company.

The address to mail the cell phones is the following: Mobile Phone Recycling Program, Metech International LLC, 120 Mapleville Main St., Mapleville, RI 02893.

Details of the program are available on line at www.metech-arm.com/mobilephones.html.