Did you know that you can recycle your electronics and help a charity at the same time?  United Cerebral Palsy has partnered with BCS Recycle to help you recycle anything from used cell phones, old computers, televisions, printers, ink cartidges and more!

According to a New York Times article on January 8, 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that as many as 150 million cellphones are taken out of service each year and of that 150 million, only 20 percent are recycled or reused. Cellular phones contain metals, plastics, glass and chemicals, all of which require energy to mine and make, and could be hazardous if they end up in landfills and leach into the ground.  The EPA has partnered with many retailers, manufacturers and service providers, to educate cell phone users about the benefits of recycling their old cell phones. Eleven companies — AT&T, Best Buy, LG Electronics, Motorola, Nokia, Office Depot, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Sprint, Staples and T-Mobile — are partners in the campaign. The $175,000 campaign, "Recycle Your Cellphone. It's an Easy Call" and it directs its message towards 18-35-year-olds, the population segment that upgrades to new cell phones most often. Matt Hale, the director of the EPA's office of solid waste said, "Our key role is to get the message out, that recycling cellphones is easy and convenient."

As an action on your part, you can do more than help the environment, you can help United Cerebral Palsy, as a portion of recycled proceeds go to benefit UCP. 

For more information about this program, visit the BCS Recycle Web site and look on the right hand side for information to benefit United Cerebral Palsy.  Also, you can contact Emily Dolenz at 202-973-7100 if you have any further questions or would like to get involved in this program.

Also, please don't forget to subscribe to the United Cerebral Palsy Life Without Limits e-newsletter at UCP.org.