EEG’s Mobile Recycling Campaign in collaboration with Nokia Middle East on its 3rd phase of implementation

As the unprecedented development in mobile phone technology continues to rise, so does the frequency with which people replace mobile phones. The trend is particularly true in the UAE being one of the primary launching pads of the latest mobile devices available in the market.

In line with the thrust to promote awareness on the importance of proper treatment of e-waste in the UAE particularly the mobile devices and accessories, EEG in collaboration with Nokia Markets Middle East and Africa once again joined hands in a mobile recycling campaign.

Now on its 3^rd phase of project implementation, the campaign reaches new heights as the program extends its reach to a greater number of target participants from the various sectors of the UAE community. The Borrow-A-Bin scheme shall be once again rolled out among EEG’s corporate members where recycling bins shall be placed in the participating organization’s premises for a week to provide facility for the employees to take part in the campaign.

A total of 10 dialogue sessions with 10 selected schools are also in pipeline for 2011. The dialogue shall highlight the discussions on environmental significance of mobile recycling, the process flow of recycling and all other related and timely topics. With EEG spearheading the project implementation and Nokia providing the technical expertise on the issues relating to recycling, the success of the dialogue in engaging the academic institutions to take active part in the mobile recycling campaign is highly anticipated. 

“Another beautiful addition to the campaign is the scheme to translate mobile phone into trees. It is a project whereby all participating organizations and individuals shall have the chance to join EEG in the 11/11/11 celebration on 11 November 2011 through planting trees under their respective names. All participating organizations and academic institutions that are able to collect and deposit a minimum of 100 mobile phones for recycling until 01 September 2011 shall be qualified to join the tree planting event. For individual participants, the qualifying amount of collection is 25 mobile phones”, said Habiba Al Marashi, EEG Chairperson.

 “We are excited about our collaboration with Emirates Environmental Group” said Ulrike Vott, Nokia Markets Sustainability Manager Middle East. “The initiative has been developed jointly with EEG to complement Nokia’s permanent take-back scheme in Nokia Care points across the United Arab Emirates. The initiative includes educating the young generation as well as facilitating easy access to mobile phone recycling by delivering the scheme directly to companies and institutions.”

Nokia runs the world’s largest voluntary mobile phone take back scheme for responsible recycling, with 5000 collection points in more than 85 countries and accepts all brands of phones for recycling (Visit the recycling map at www.nokia.com/werecycle.) Mobile devices and accessories contain raw materials which can be reused in many ways to create new products - and nothing has to go to landfill. So after old phones and accessories have been collected, Nokia delivers them to an approved recycling company, which dismantles them and regains materials that can be reused to make new things, such as park benches or musical instruments.

“In order to tell people that recycling mobile phones is possible and to encourage them to do so, we continuously run campaigns around the world. We give a promise to consumers that the phones will be recycled according to highest international standards so to regain raw materials. Phones of all brands and makes can be handed in to the initiative with EEG or at our Nokia Care points.” The phones are not re-sold but truly recycled, and data privacy is protected.

In 2011, EEG in collaboration with Nokia aims for a larger reach of the mobile recycling campaign. The year 2011 is one of the important milestones as EEG celebrates its 20th year anniversary. Hence, the advocacy towards a more sustainable environment continues hoping that the message that each one can make a difference for the environment reaches a far and wide. Indeed, together for a better environment.