The Oakland Zoo is a committed partner and advocate for the ECO-CELL program. In this video, we see a group of young visitors learning about the connection between the components of cell phones and hand-held devices and their impact on gorilla and chimpanzee habitats. A succinct and simple explanation that both EDUCATES and CALLS one to ACTION. Great job Oakland Zoo!

Armed militia: an all-too common site in this "economy"

The video and article available at VICE guide to the Congo (external link, new window) paints a grim portrait of the situation in Congo. Atrocious conditions of fear and abuse are the norm. This is why we do the work we do.

As Eric said: “Sometimes I forget just how real the issue of Coltan mining really is sitting here in Louisville, KY. This guy threw it right back at me in a visceral way-made me glare at my smartphone. I know there aren’t any easy answers but from my perspective the change must come from the consumer. Me.”

“We’d come to Congo to try to find out more about the developed world’s thirst for coltan, cassiterite, and the other colorfully named minerals that make the electronics industry go round. These are part of a group of natural resources that have been dubbed “conflict minerals” because of the alphabet soup of armed groups (FARDC, CNDP, FDLR, PARECO, etc.) who have found them a very portable and highly profitable way to fund their activities—which mostly consist of killing people. Since 1996, these guerrilla insurgencies have led to the deaths of more than 5 million people, and in one particularly horrific year—2006—the rape of approximately 400,000 women.”

See the videos here: http://www.vice.com/vice-news/the-vice-guide-to-congo-1

Step one in building your handheld electronics.

They have been doing it for 30 years. We are proud to play a role in this most worthy cause.

This ECO-CELL and KFTC e-cycling bin at Bluegrass Green is made of sustainable materials and bamboo. Bluegrass Green Co. is at 804 E. Market St. Louisville.

Read more about KFTC in their 30th anniversary book: “30 Years of Action for Justice” (external link, opens in new window).

And check out page 44 for our full page “thank you” note to KFTC for all their sustained, productive work to improve our state.

ECO-CELL and KFTC recycling boxes can be found throughout Kentucky

See http://www.kftc.org/ for more information and to get involved.

If you would like to host a collection box (free of charge), please send your request to eric@eco-cell.com

ECO-CELL has compiled a helpful booklet to provide a broad overview of the issues surrounding e-waste and the threats to wildlife habitats and waterways. Protecting these habitats and resources is at the heart of the ECO-CELL mission.

The ECO-CELL Urban Miner’s Field Guide is a concise tool to help our many valued conservation partners to educate, inform, and act.

Download PDF here: ECO-CELL Urban Miner’s Field Guide

The Urban Miner's Field Guide shows our partner locations and more

Hayley is a big hit (and inspiration) for visitors to our info booth

This ECO-CELL keychain can opener is made of 100% recycled plastic from old cell phone casings

This big elephant and rock exhibit is looming over the AZA Conference

Zoo Atlanta's Green Team exhibit at AZA 2011

Providing much-needed funds to support the mission of DFGFI

educate, inform, act.

Our longtime Silverback partners, Zoo Atlanta and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, are our newest featured charity partner. The organizations are doing truly great work to educate, inform, and inspire the public to re-think the connection between our electronic devices and the impact on wildlife habitats in the Congo and elsewhere. And we join them in this call to action.

The team at Zoo Atlanta and DFGFI are committed and diligent — and we are proud to be a partner in this most important effort.

Read more at: eco-cell/zoo-atlanta

Zoo Atlanta has created incentives and “partner levels” to reward higher quantities of recycled devices. Here are the incentives and partner levels that Zoo Atlanta has created (from Call4Gorillas):

• 200 cell phones: Silverback Supporter - A painting created by one of our gorilla artists!
• 100 cell phones: Ranger Level – Adopt an Infant Gorilla – Green Option
• 50 cell phones: Primate Pal - your group listed on the zoo’s Call4Gorillas webpage

For each cell phone donated, Zoo Atlanta will donate 100% of the proceeds to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Zoo Atlanta’s partner for gorilla conservation.

More information: zooatlanta.org/cell_recycling

Zoo Atlanta's Green Team exhibit at AZA 2011

Providing much-needed funds to support the mission of DFGFI

The Georgia Aquarium put on a spectacular party Wednesday night, and showed all of us AZA members their world-class facility.

It is such a pleasure to meet and spend time with great people doing great work!

The need and momentum is growing for a credible international certification system to ensure that minerals in consumer electronics and other products are not fueling rape and violence in eastern Congo.

The people and wildlife in the Congo need our help.

Several of our recycling partners have taken the pledge to collect 3000 phones in 2011. And ECO-CELL is offering a financial incentive to reward this worthy goal.

Several years ago, we developed the “Silverback” Partner program to reward our most productive recyclers. Those who collect more 1000 cell phones become “Silverbacks” and earn extra money for every phone they recycle, regardless of age or condition.

The new “3000 in 2011″ incentive program establishes a large goal and a large reward. The target: 3000 Phones recycled in the year 2011. For all those who meet the challenge, ECO-CELL will make a charitable contribution to them or the non-profit of their choice.

We know you can do it! Contact Eric for details and to take the pledge!