InsideToronto.com – Donate your old cellphone, save the gorillas

Donate your old cellphone, save the gorillas

Jun. 8, 2006

The Toronto Zoo is doing its part to save the eastern lowland gorillas of Congo.

The zoo is now offering a cellphone recycling program in partnership with ECO-Cell. Cellphone production requires a dull metallic ore called coltan, which is largely found in eastern areas of the Congo. The mining of this ore occurs in the middle of endangered gorilla and elephant habitats.

The U.N. has reported that in the past five years, the eastern lowland gorilla population in the Congo has declined 90 per cent. Reducing the demand for coltan will help save these animals and their habitat.

In addition, for each cellphone recycled, ECO-Cell will donate $1 to the zoo’s Green Fund, which supports green initiatives at the facility.

Currently, there are 56 zoos in North America participating in the cellphone recycling program. The Toronto Zoo is the first one to open it to the public.

People can drop their cellphones off at the guest services kiosk at the front entrance at the administrative building or they can mail them to: Toronto Zoo, Cell Phone Recycling Program, Attn. P. Rivera, Eco Zoo Green Team, 361A Old Finch Ave., Ont., M1B 5K7.

If you or your company has a large number of cellphones or you would like to have a collection box in your organization to support the Toronto Zoo, call 416-392 5947 or e-mail rivera@torontozoo.ca.

People can also call 416-392-9114 or visit www.torontozoo.com to donate to the Toronto Zoo Green Fund or learn the full program details.

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