Put that old mobile phone to good use

Now is a great time to find a better use for your old mobile phone - drop it off at the South Waikato District Council and raise money for the Starship National Air Ambulance Service.

This invaluable service flies medical experts to emergencies around the country and brings children back to Starship for lifesaving care.

Council is proud to join in the successful campaign that has been raising funds for The Starship foundation since 2009, raising over $2.4 million to help fund the Starship National Air Ambulance.

"And we know that our community will get behind this worthwhile initiative," said Kerry Fabrie, Council's Communications Manager. "Old mobile phones can be dropped off at the main Council office in Tokoroa or into one of the smaller cardboard boxes at the Indoor Pools, the Tokoroa library, Putāruru Office and the Tīrau i-SITE at the LibraryLink Outreach Service area."

The phones are passed to a specialist recycling company, Swapkit, who grade the phones and wipe the data. Sim and memory cards are also removed and destroyed.

Phones that can still be used are sold to off-shore businesses that specialise in the resale of second hand mobile phones. They are refurbished and sold as low cost handsets.

Those that have reached their end of life are broken down and recycled in an environmentally friendly way. All proceeds from the re-sale of mobile devices go to Starship.

All mobile phones are accepted regardless of condition (working or non-working), make or model.

"Don't throw your old mobile phone in the bin or keep that growing pile in your drawers or cupboard! Pop it in the recycling bins at selected Council sites and do your bit for the environment and for the Starship National Air Ambulance," concluded Ms Fabrie.

Ends: words: 291