How to Save African Gorillas by Recycling Cell Phones

It may sound strange, but by recycling your cell phones, you can help save African gorillas. Cell phones contain a metal ore, Columbite-tantalite, or coltan, that becomes a heat-resistant powder when refined. Some studies find that the population of lowland gorillas has decreased by 70 percent, and one of the main causes is mining for coltan, which destroys their habitat. This guide will help you learn how to recycle your cell phone and help save a primate.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Look for a recycling program that accepts old cell phones. You can find them by looking online or by contacting your local zoo. Zoos such as the San Diego Zoo are spear-heading the effort to raise awareness of cell phone recycling, which can reduce the need for mining coltan, thus saving the habitat where gorillas live.

2. Resell your cell phone. Companies like Eco-Cell take unused cell phones and refurbish them, then sell them to developing markets in Latin America and Africa.

3. Hold a fund raiser where you can raise money for your school or another organization that you belong to by holding cell phone recycling events.

4. Donate your cell phone to a local zoo. They can help recycle the phone.

5. Sell your cell phone on auction sites or in the classifieds. You can buy programs which can erase the data in your phone, so your private information remains private.

Resources

• National Geographic News discusses saving gorillas.
• Eco-Cell will resell your used cell phone.