May 2, 2008
by Annie Madden
Robert E. Bell Middle School has joined a national program named Call2Recycle that will provide New Castle residents with an easy, convenient way to recycle their old cell phones and dead rechargeable batteries. Bell Middle School students will kick off this effort this Saturday at the Earth Day Celebration at the Bell porte-cochere from noon to 3:00 p.m. Students will host a booth to collect cell phones and old rechargeable batteries.
After Saturday’s launch of this program, consumers can simply drop off their used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones in the designated boxes in Bell Middle School’s main office during school hours. Other collection sites for this program include the New Castle Recycling Center on Hunts Lane, the Rite Aid on South Greeley Avenue in Chappaqua and on South Moger Avenue in Mount Kisco and Wireless Zone in Mount Kisco.
Chappaqua and other communities nationwide are working in cooperation with the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Cooperation, a nonprofit public service organization that operates the Call2Recycle program. By participating in this program, we are helping to conserve the earth’s natural resources and to prevent cell phones and rechargeable batteries from ending up the country’s landfills.
“Community participation is a crucial part of our program because it puts us in touch with the public,” said Norm England, Rechargeable Battery Recycling Cooperation president, in their press release announcing the Call2Recycle program. “Communities such as Chappaqua are helping to make cell phone and rechargeable battery recycling a reality, and that’s great for the environment.”
Ubiquitous batteries and cell phones
Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-ion) and Small (less than 2 lbs/1 Kg) Sealed Lead (Pb) rechargeable batteries are commonly found in cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, cordless power tools, two-way radios, camcorders, remote control toys and a variety of other portable electronic products. When a rechargeable battery can no longer hold a charge, it can and should be recycled.
In 2005, roughly 200 million cell phones were in use in the United States, and approximately 130 million phones will be retired each year. The average American cell phone user has a total of three or more cell phones and five cordless electronic products in their possession.
The Call2Recycle program has other recycling programs that collect old cell phones and used rechargeable batteries from retailers, businesses, communities and public agencies. The program’s public education campaign features Richard Karn, “Al” from TV’s “Home Improvement” and host of “Family Feud.”
To learn more about the Call2Recycle program or to find another participating drop off location in your area, visit their web site at http://www.call2recycle.org or call toll free 1-877-2-RECYCLE.
Annie Madden is an eighth grade science teacher at Bell Middle School.
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