As part of its ongoing sustainability efforts, the City of New Rochelle has launched a new cell phone recycling program. Cell phones, PDAs and related accessories (chargers, earphones, Bluetooths, etc.) can now be dropped in collection bins conveniently located at four sites throughout the City.
“Reduce, reuse, and recycle are the fundamentals of environmental conservation. Our new cell phone recycling program accomplishes all three,” said Deborah Newborn, Sustainability Coordinator for the City of New Rochelle. “This program will conserve natural resources, as all the parts of the cell phones and accessories will be reused or recycled in an environmentally-responsible manner. And, the elimination of these items from the waste stream will also reduce the volume of trash collected by the City, saving our taxpayers money.”
Gray collection bins have been installed at the entrances of the following locations: New Rochelle City Hall, 515 North Avenue; the New Rochelle Public Library, 1 Library Plaza; Super Stop & Shop, 2425 Palmer Avenue; and The A&P in the Quaker Ridge Shopping Center. Phones and accessories can be dropped off during business hours.
For more information on this or other sustainability efforts contact Deborah Newborn at 654-2003 or email dnewborn@newrochelleny.com
The City benefits in two ways: the City gets a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the used phones or, in the case of phones that cannot be resold, money from scrap. The City reduces the “tipping fee” charged by the county trash disposal site where all Westchester municipalities, including New Rochelle, send trash which is then burned at the Peekskill energy re-use facility
In addition to the City drop-off points, another option is the Cell Phones for Soldiers program.
Like the City program, donated cell phones are sold to a company that recycles them. The money received from recycling cell phones is used to purchase calling cards that are sent to troops in need. Batteries, chargers and accessories are not required but gladly accepted.
Drop-off point for the Cellphones for Soliders program is Liberty Tax Service, located at 622A Main Street in downtown New Rochelle.
