They're Calling On You
African Primate Conservation and Mobile Phones
We can all help support primate conservation in Africa with the simple act of recycling old mobile phones.
Chimpanzees are one of the species affected by uncontrolled coltan mining
How are those two topics are related you may ask?
Mobile phone and other electronic devices contain Coltan, a space-age metal that has allowed devices to become even smaller.
About 80% of the world’s ‘Coltan’ reserves are located in the Democratic Republic of Congo - home to gorillas, chimpanzees and other precious primates.
Uncontrolled ‘Coltan’ mining results in tens of thousands of miners moving into an area. In addition to destroying habitat through the mining process, miners hunt animals for food. The bushmeat trade flourishes, as does illegal trade in orphaned apes and other animals as pets.
Replacing mobile phones every year and constantly upgrading electronic devices, all increases the demand for ‘Coltan’.
Around the world, more than 800 million people use mobile phones and that figure is growing daily.
In the last 12 months, more than 9 million mobile phones were sold in Australia alone. It is estimated there there are more mobile phones in Australia than there are people.
Australian's typically upgrade their mobile phone every 18-24 months which means millions of mobile phones end up dumped into landfill every year.
How many more are sitting in drawers in Australian households?
So what can you do to help?
Recycling mobile phones and electronic equipment can help save gorillas and chimpanzees. As part of a joint initiative of ARAZPA and the Jane Goodall Institute, Conservation Ark is embracing the ‘They’re Calling on You’ mobile phone recycling project.
As a visitor: Download a postage paid label below and your old mobile phones will be sent to Aussie Recycling Program. There the Coltan-coated capacitors will be given a ‘second life’, thereby lessening demand for Coltan.
As a business: Encourage your workplace to recycle old phones. Aussie Recycling Program offer a free courier pickup for 16 phones or more. Download the shipping label and instructions for arranging courier pickup below.
And remember, whenever you hear you mobile ringing, it's a reminder that "They're Calling on You".
Reply Paid labels for up to 4 phones.pdf
Labels and courier pickup information for 16 or more phones.pdf
Still want to do more?
Use the form below to register to:
- Act as a drop off point for the phones of friends, family, classmates, workmates, etc
- Allow your premises to be a satchel pick up point.
Registration Form.doc