ECO-CELL Raises Funds for Zoo Conservation Programs Cell Phone Recycler and Zoos Across North American Share Mission
Louisville, Ky. (July 20, 2005) –ECO-CELL, a Louisville-based cell phone recycling and fund raising company, has partnered with a growing number of zoos across North America to raise funds for conservation programs and help protect the environment. The two-year-old company has experienced steady growth by focusing its business on non-profits, particularly zoos and conservation programs that share a joint interest in conservation and fund raising.
“At ECO-CELL we’re doing three things – providing a very easy, low maintenance fund-raising program, saving the environment, and satisfying a demand for technology in low income foreign markets,” said Eric Ronay, ECO-CELL Vice President. “Everyone wins – the environment, the fundraisers and those receiving reused cellular technology.”
According to INFORM Inc., an independent research organization that examines the effects of business practices on the environment and on human health, 130 million cell phones will be discarded annually in the United States by the end of 2005. Of these, 75% will end up in landfills where their toxins like lead and arsenic are likely to poison groundwater.
ECO-CELL helps keep cell phones out of landfills and provides organizations with a turn-key, environmentally focused fund-raising program. Organizations collect used cell phones which are then purchased by ECO-CELL who then sells these phones to several companies that refurbish and sell them to low income, first-time users in Latin America. Phones that cannot be resold are recycled. A portion of phones are donated to senior citizens’ centers and battered women shelters.
ECO-CELL recently added Zoo Atlanta to their growing client list of zoos and conservation programs. Zoo Atlanta’s campaign benefits the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, the world’s premier gorilla conservation effort.
“The ECO-CELL program is perfect for us in a number of ways,” said Dawn Bartlett assistant manager and member of Zoo Atlanta’s Green Team. “They’ve provided us with an easy and coordinated fund-raising program that allows us to raise money while helping the environment – and in particular the lowland gorillas. They’ve been terrific to work with and we look forward to a long relationship.”
Zoo Atlanta’s commitment to gorilla conservation matches ECO-CELL’s own dedication to help save the gorillas. The habitat of the gorillas has been adversely affected by the production of cell phones since coltan, an ore used to coat phone components, is mined there. Exposing the mining trade and its related bush meat industry will help save the gorilla and its habitat.
In addition to Zoo Atlanta, ECO-CELL works with a number of zoos in North America and Canada including the Denver Zoo, Philadelphia Zoo, Cleveland Zoo, Phoenix Zoo, Louisville Zoo, Living Desert, and Jardin Zoologique du Quebec. The company is also working with more than 300 non-profit organizations with fundraising causes ranging from the bid to end breast cancer to debunking myths about vegetarianism. For more information visit: www.eco-cell.org
