Recycling that old phone will aid our wildlife

One of the most widely purchased items this Christmas will have been mobile phones. An estimated 15 million are replaced in the UK each year and Worcestershire alone accounts for about 135,000 of them.

Now the county's Wildlife Trust is doing its bit to recycle your discarded phones.

Along with The Link and Shields Environmental, the trust has joined Fonebak, a recycling scheme.

Kate Thomas, marketing and development manager for the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, said: "The initiative takes any mobile phone that is given to it and assesses its condition.

"Any units which they can guarantee as being in full working order are sold on, for example, to areas of the world where the cost of a new phone would normally be prohibitive. Faulty phones are stripped down, any toxic materials safely disposed of or recycled and residual waste used to, among other things, power heating units.

"This means that every old mobile phone that Fonebak receives has the potential to generate revenue.

"We are actively supporting the Fonebak scheme, not only because of its obvious environmental benefits but because, for every useable mobile phone that we send to Fonebak, we receive a donation of £4 and a percentage of the recycling profits of all faulty units."

The trust has been in existence since 1968 and relies entirely on charitable and public donations to fund its operations.

During the coming year, among a number of other projects, the trust plans to hold a series of events and courses aimed at introducing local people to the natural environment.

Topics covered will include wild flowers, ancient trees and garden butterflies, as well as a host of other nature related subjects. They also intend to plant a new orchard next to their headquarters at Lower Smite Farm, Hindlip, near Worcester, and will use trees that are traditional to Worcestershire.

To donate an old phone, pick up your new one and phone the scheme on 01905 754919.