AT&T accepting all cell phone brands as part of project
An AT&T initiative to recycle unused mobile devices could add up to money for Austin teachers.
Now through Sept. 11, every cell phone recycled or traded in will result in a $5 donation from AT&T to DonorsChoose.org, a charity that supports teachers seeking money for specific classroom projects. Austin-area teachers can receive up to $25,000 in donations, according to AT&T.
"We take great pride in our commitment to sustainable business practices, and working with DonorsChoose.org gives us another avenue to deliver on that mission," said Dave Nichols, president of AT&T Texas, in a news release. "We invite the people of Austin to clean out their drawers and bring in their old cell phones, helping to reduce e-waste and supporting local education projects at the same time."
Environmental Protection Agency statistics suggest that 89 percent of all mobile devices are not recycled after usage. AT&T's program attempts to bring that number down. The Dallas-based communications company last year collected approximately 4.5 million cell phones for reuse and recycling in addition to 487,000 pounds of recycled cell phone batteries and accessories.
