Hamburg/Munich (Germany) – The Bavarian State Ministry for Environment and Health collected about 70,000 used mobile phones in Bavaria in the frame of the initiative "Disposing of mobile phones in a clever way".
The initiative was supported by the VERE Association for the take-back and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (VERE e.V. registered association) and its approved, collective take-back system take-e-way.
More than 2,000 schools, 300 authorities, district offices and communities, about 120 hospitals and universities as well as about 55 companies engaged in the initiative which was performed in the short period from April 30th to June 30th, 2012.
In this way, "Disposing of mobile phones in a clever way" was the most successful and most area-covering collection of used mobile phones up to now which was ever performed in a German Federal State.
Majority of used mobile phones collected by pupils
The majority of 40,000 mobile phones was collected by pupils in more than 2,000 participating schools. About one half of these mobile phones were collected in the elementary schools and the other half in the secondary schools.
Thus, mainly the young well accepted the campaign due to their active participation; they were sensitized for a responsible use of resources for their future mobile phone.
Almost one third of the mobile phones collected in authorities
19,000 used mobile phones were collected in ministries, police stations, tax authorities, universities, hospitals, communities, county districts and other authorities. The Bavarian State Ministry for Environment and Health led the initiative as patron with a very good example and collected 1,400 mobile phones in its own ranks.
High collection rate in Bavarian companies
About 55 companies engaged in the collection contributed a recordsetting sum of 9,270 used mobile phones. A Bavarian automobile manufacturer and his employees collected about 3,800 mobile phones – this is exemplary for lived sense of responsibility of our resources.
2,500 collecting points
Within only two months it was possible to implement a total of 2,500 collecting points in schools, authorities and companies for the initiative. Together they collected a total of about 70,000 used mobile phones.
Thus, each collecting point helped to recover on average 27 mobile phones from the drawers of their former users and to inform the participants about the value of the raw materials contained in their mobile phones for the future generations.
A total of 5,500 kilograms of mobile phones, 1,800 kilograms of accessories for mobile phones such as for instance battery chargers and 1,600 kilograms of accumulators were recycled.
Eight percent of the mobile phones can be reused after a complex deletion of data.
A great success from the point of view of the VERE Association
The VERE Association and take-e-way welcome this initiative since in this way the awareness of future generations for an efficient use and an effective recycling is being increased. Using the mobile phones as an example in particular the attention of young people is drawn on the fact that lots of valuable raw materials are included in electronic devices.
Today, Jochen Stepp, chairman of the VERE Association said in Hamburg: "I admire the courage and the big effort of the Bavarian Ministry of Environment to engage so many people in the preservation of raw materials without significant support by third parties and to recover about 70,000 mobile phones from the drawers of the citizens within a period of only two months. So much commitment deserves the appreciation of all of us.
Rules regarding recycling are not very useful if you do not win the hearts and minds of the people. Therefore, we think that the initiative of the Bavarian State Ministry for Environment and Health is excellent. It aims at creating the awareness that today the mobile phone includes lots of raw materials for the mobile phone of the next generation. For this reason, VERE and take-e-way support the initiative.
From our point of view it is decisive that ministries such as the State Ministry for Environment and Health or currently the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research are working together in preserving raw materials for our children and grandchildren in cooperation with schools, communities, network operators, manufacturers, associations and companies.
We think it is excellent that in particular authorities which otherwise only prescribe regulations set a good example with positive campaigns. This is finally a good example that campaigns to preserve raw materials are not only badmouthed but can also be done well. From our point of view, each mobile phone which is handed in by a citizen is a great success.
The campaign is the first major step in the right direction. Therefore, we are very glad to be able to participate in this initiative.
The overall cooperation with the engineering office for sustainable communication, Eficom, and the Teqport GmbH was much fun. In particular the professional processing gives us reason to hope for further models for the future", continued Jochen Stepp.
About the VERE Association
- Founded in 2003 in Hamburg
- Currently 2,500 members
- Board: Jochen Stepp, Oliver Friedrichs
The VERE Association for the take-back and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (VERE e.V. registered association) represents the interests of more than 2,500 small and medium-sized companies even at political level, being the organization of suppliers, manufacturers, trade associations and individual persons for implementation of the ElektroG in Germany having a largest number of members.
Business Fields: By “take-e-way” the VERE Association assumes the implementation of requirements and obligations in conformity with the law according to the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG/WEEE), Battery Act (BattG) and Packaging Ordinance (VerpackV) for medium-sized companies in Germany and abroad.
Press Contact
VERE Association for the take-back and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (VERE e.V. registered association)
Christoph Brellinger
Organisational Communication & Public Relations
Liebigstraße 64
22113 Hamburg
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)40/750687-111
Fax: +49 (0)40/750687-101
http://www.vereev.com
presse(at)vereev.de
