Used Mobile Phone Collection Campaign Now at 7.5 Tons

More than 7.5 tons of non-used mobile phones have been collected in the "Return it, Bro!" campaign, which has been running for more than five years, with the participation of 1,111 collection points, KÖVET Association for a Sustainable Economy told MTI on Wednesday.

The total weight of mobile phones collected in spring 2023 is 1,524 kilograms at 115 collection points. The organizers are satisfied with the result and thank the participants for their work.

The campaign was jointly organized by the Jane Goodall Institute, the KÖVET Association, the Foundation for Africa and the Defense Association. More collection points have joined the campaign this year. Many of the organizations involved in the collection have organized internal communication campaigns, awareness-raising events and presentations to actively mobilize their communities to donate as many mobile phones as possible to the collection boxes. In the spring, the organizers supported the work of the collectors with an information webinar and an animated video film.

According to the information, the aim of the campaign is to collect as many data-free mobile devices, GPS or tablets and their chargers as possible, to promote a circular economy and help save the habitat of Congolese primates and the lives of local communities. 

The used chargers are a treasure trove of 17 metals, including gold, silver, palladium and copper. The mining of raw materials for mobile phones, such as coltan, threatens the habitat and survival of endangered species in Africa – gorillas, bonobos and chimpanzees – and the interests of local communities. They want to curb this trend, because if the metals in used mobile phones are recycled in larger quantities, the mining of the ores needed to make them is expected to decrease.