If you’re like many people in our province, you inevitably have a used cellphone or two collecting dust at the bottom of a random junk drawer. Don’t worry, it definitely isn’t just you. Industry research indicates there could be as many as 690,000 old cellular devices of every shape and size stored in Saskatchewan homes alone!

In celebration of Earth Month, SaskTel is calling on all residents to help make our community a healthier and greener place by supporting the second edition of its Phones for a Fresh Start cellphone recycling drive.

“This campaign is an excellent opportunity to bring the people of Saskatchewan together in the interest of environmental awareness,” said Greg Hern, Environment Manager at SaskTel. “One of the greatest contributions we can make is to actively support responsible and eco-friendly practices within our community.”

The need to cut down on electronic waste going to landfills remains a priority. You can recycle 96 per cent of the materials in an average cell phone, yet only 10 per cent of unwanted wireless devices in our province are recycled each year. This contributes to the 20 to 50 million metric tonnes of e-waste generated around the world annually.

Phones for a Fresh Start is committed to meeting that challenge head on. Since its inception in 2009, the program has recycled more than 106,000 cellular phones, more than 49,000 accessories and nearly 1.5 metric tonnes of batteries. SaskTel’s second ever cellphone recycling campaign is building on that momentum while helping the company maintain its eco-friendly focus.

After SaskTel collects the old cellphones and devices, it then ships them to EDI Inc. where they give new life to used devices. Norman Yorke, Managing Partner at EDI Inc., has seen the impact of Phones for a Fresh Start firsthand, and says he is proud to partner on such an innovative program.

“Every cellphone that SaskTel sends for recycling is one less device that ends up in our landfills,” said Yorke. “At its core, Phones for a Fresh Start is about being a responsible steward of the environment. We take great pride in helping SaskTel reach that goal by working together to protect the spaces that we all share.”

While Phones for a Fresh Start is committed to minimizing our province’s environmental footprint, the program is also about helping others in our community. In partnership with the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services Saskatchewan (PATHS), the program has used all proceeds from the recycling process to purchase and donate nearly $89,000 in prepaid phone cards and more than 2,800 cellphones for distribution across 21 PATH shelter agencies in the province.

“Phones for a Fresh Start continues to provide an important lifeline for victims of domestic abuse,” said Jo-Anne Dusel, Executive Director at PATHS. “A simple cellphone allows them to stay in contact with family and friends, look for jobs or a new home, and most of all, provides them with the comfort of having a phone in hand for safety’s sake.”

“The success of the Phones for a Fresh Start program relies on the generosity of Saskatchewan people,” said Deb Ottenbreit, SaskTel Community Relations Specialist. “I hope that this second edition of the recycling campaign will continue to inspire residents to get involved as we work together to have a positive impact on our environment and those who find themselves needing to access the services offered by PATHS.”