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Beach, RSPB Onziebust reserve, Egilsay, Orkney Family having fun on a walk Puffins on Isle of May nature reserve
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Home > Support us > Be green > Recycle your mobile

Recycle mobiles and inkjet cartridges and help birds

Mobile phone
When your phone reaches the end of its useful life, don't throw it away... recycle it!

February 2008 update: donations to the appeal so far have raised an incredible £125,000. Thank you and please keep them coming in!

Recycle your old mobile phones and inkjet cartridges and help the environment twice over.

For every mobile phone and inkjet cartridge sent to The Recycling Appeal, the RSPB will receive a cash donation. This money will help us to carry out vital conservation work across the UK, such as creating habitats for wildlife.

The environmental benefits of recycling aren't confined to supporting the work of the RSPB. There are an estimated 75 million redundant mobile phones in cupboards and drawers across the UK. A great many of these will end up in landfill sites. 

Toxic substances

Both mobile phones and inkjet cartridges contain toxic substances. These substances, when disposed of in landfill sites, can leak into the surrounding soil, polluting the environment and placing birds and other wildlife in potential danger. 

TV presenter, writer and producer, Philippa Forrester has given her support to this campaign, ‘This is a fantastic idea, and one that genuinely helps people to make a difference to tomorrow's world. It costs you nothing, helps raise funds for the RSPB and reduces the amount of waste going to landfill. What better way is there to dispose of old inkjet cartridges and mobile phones, and help our environment at the same time?’

Doug Christie, Licensing Manager for the RSPB says, ‘It’s really easy to join this scheme and help raise valuable funds for the RSPB. Just log on to the recycling appeal website and order your freepost envelopes. Once you have completed your contact details on the envelope, enclose your old inkjet cartridges and mobile phones and post to the RSPB recycling appeal.’

Rob Morton, PR Executive for Redeem plc, the company administering the appeal on behalf of the RSPB, says, ‘Not only does the environment benefit from recycling, but everyone who recycles with the RSPB Recycling Appeal will be entered into our prize draw, with the chance of winning a fabulous prize kindly donated by Karrimor. So don't add to landfill waste - recycle - you'll be helping the environment in so many ways.’

What can I do?

Recycle your old mobile phones and inkjet cartridges and help the environment twice over.

Help raise funds for our vital conservation work

Last modified: 05 February 2008

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© 2008 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Charity registered in England and Wales no 207076, in Scotland no SC037654
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Last published: 05/02/2008 14:05:22
Show/hide picture credits
Mobile phone - (iStockPhoto)
Beach, RSPB Onziebust reserve, Egilsay, Orkney - Andy Hay (rspb-images.com, Ref: 2000_1045_009 )
Family having fun on a walk - Getty Images
Puffins on Isle of May nature reserve - Andy Hay (rspb-images.com, Ref: 1009614)
Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)