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Boost Mobile and ReCellular to Include 4.5 Million Recycling Envelopes with New Boost Mobile Phones
ORLANDO, Fla., Mar. 27 – Today, Boost Mobile and ReCellular announced that a postage-paid recycling envelope will be included with every new Boost Mobile phone. Approximately 4.5 million envelopes will be distributed this year, making the initiative one of the industry’s biggest wireless recycling campaigns.
“We hope offering a convenient recycling program will get every Boost Mobile customer to automatically think of recycling their old cell phone. Recycling is a great way to help the environment, an important goal of the Boost Mobile community that’s active outdoors in snow, surf and BMX events.”
In addition to keeping phones and accessories out of landfills, the Boost Mobile recycling program will contribute additional funding to Boost Mobile’s support of Global Inheritance.
Global Inheritance was established in 2002, as a 501c3 non-profit organization working to reinvent activism for today’s young generation. Global Inheritance focuses on the power of creativity to communicate and push for progressive social change while rejecting conflict. The organization provides interactive programs that allow individuals to experience issues such as recycling and air-pollution prevention.
Phones of every make, model and age can be sent to ReCellular in Dexter, Mich., who will contribute up to $50 to Global Inheritance for each donated phone.
“Americans will replace an estimated 130 million cell phones this year, with the majority of phones either discarded or stuffed in a drawer,” says Mike Newman, vice president of ReCellular. “Unfortunately, most people don’t realize that they can recycle their old phones, or that their old phones can have a tremendous benefit for a worthy cause like Global Inheritance.”
The Boost Mobile program is an extension of ReCellular’s work to raise awareness for phone recycling throughout the wireless industry, and to make the process as convenient as possible for consumers.
“Including an envelope with every new phone will introduce more than 4 million Boost Mobile customers to the idea that cell phones can, and should, be recycled,” says Newman. “In addition, the program provides current cell phone customers with a convenient way to recycle their old phone as they unpack their new phone.”
ReCellular expects to collect 4 million phones in 2007 through partnerships with charity groups, retailers and wireless carriers such as Boost Mobile.
Approximately half of the phones ReCellular processes are reconditioned and resold to wholesale companies in over 40 countries around the world. ReCellular expects to generate $60 million in revenue from sales of wireless handsets and accessories, accounting for 25 percent of the global market for reconditioned cell phones.
Phones that cannot be resold are dismantled and recycled through environmentally responsible methods certified to ISO 14001 standards. ReCellular expects to recycle 1 million pounds of scrap phones and accessories this year, working with recycling partners to reclaim valuable materials, including:
“One of the founding principles of ReCellular is to build a successful business that is both socially and environmentally responsible,” says Newman. “It is a great honor and privilege to partner with Boost Mobile to support such a worthy and inspiring effort as Global Inheritance.”
About ReCellular:
With offices in the United States, Hong Kong, and Brazil, ReCellular Inc. is the world’s foremost collector, reseller and recycler of used wireless phones and accessories. We provide solutions for the collection, reuse and recycling of used personal electronics that generate financial return for our partners, quality products for our customers, funding for charity organizations, and protection of the environment. Corporate and wholesale information is available at www.ReCellular.com. Consumer information, including the Cell Phone Data Eraser™ tool and charity fundraising information, is available at www.wirelessrecycling.com.
About Boost Mobile:
Based in Irvine, California, Boost Mobile, LLC, a subsidiary of Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE: S), is a lifestyle-based youth brand presently focused on offering premium communications products and services. Since 2002, Boost Mobile’s quality products and unique branding efforts, which fuse youth aspiring sports, music, fashion and entertainment, have enabled American youth to boost their lifestyle, build stronger connections and achieve greater independence. Boost Mobile is now recognized as a brand that embraces diverse youth culture, lifestyles and interests. Boost’s popularity among American youth has generated rapid success, making it one of the fastest growing wireless services in the U.S.