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Northern Californians Can Make a Difference This Week by Donating Old Phones to Verizon Wireless' HopeLine Program

Posted on: Monday, 6 April 2009, 19:01 CDT

Consumers Can Help Their Community and the Environment During National Cell Phone Recycling Week

WALNUT CREEK, Calif., April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers in Northern California can give back to their communities and help the environment by donating old cell phones, batteries and accessories to Verizon Wireless' HopeLine(R) program during the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Cell Phone Recycling Week - April 6 - 12, 2009.

The EPA reports that more than 100 million cell phones are discarded annually. If we recycled all of them, we would save enough energy to power more than 18,500 U.S. homes for one year. HopeLine provides a convenient way to make an impact.

"Last year alone, Californians donated more than 237,000 no-longer-used wireless phones to HopeLine," said Rich Garwood, region president of Verizon Wireless. "Recognizing that having the latest technology means more old phones are left behind, Verizon Wireless makes it easy for consumers to recycle their phones during National Cell Phone Recycling Week - and throughout the year - in our stores or online through HopeLine."

Through HopeLine's national recycling efforts, more than 1 million no-longer-used wireless phones have been disposed of properly, more than 170,000 pounds of batteries have been recycled and more than 200 tons of electronics waste and batteries have been kept out of landfills.

HopeLine, Verizon Wireless' exclusive phone recycling and refurbishing program, collects no-longer-used wireless equipment from any wireless service provider at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide or by mail. Phones donated to HopeLine that can be refurbished are sold for reuse and those without value are recycled in an environmentally sound way under a zero landfill policy. Proceeds from HopeLine are used to provide wireless phones and cash grants to local shelters and non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness.

For additional information on Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program, including store locations, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline. To print a postage-paid label, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopelinemailinglabel.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving more than 80 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

EPA's Plug-In To eCycling National Cell Phone Recycling Week

April 6 through April 12, 2009

Plug-In To eCycling's National Cell Phone Recycling Week 2009 is a joint effort with leading cell phone manufacturers, service providers and retailers to increase the awareness and recycling rates for cell phones. Plug-In To eCycling encourages Americans nationwide to donate or recycle their unwanted cell phones during the week of April 6 through April 12, 2009. For additional information and to find cell phone recycling locations near you, please visit: www.epa.gov/cellphones.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless

Source: PR Newswire

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