Answer the Call of the Wild!
ECO-FACT: There are more than 150 million cell phone users in the United States alone. With technology rapidly changing, the average lifespan of a cell phone is 14 months. There may already be 500 million unused cell phones in the United States, with as many as 100 million added each year.
|
Rather than throw an old cell phone away, guests are encouraged to donate their old cell phones to Denver Zoo, who has partnered with Eco-Cell to recycle and reuse old cell phones.
Bring your old cell phone to the guest services counter at the main entrance of Denver Zoo.
You can also mail your cell phones to:
Denver Zoo
Attn: Answer the Call of the Wild
2300 Steele Street
Denver, CO 80205
For more information about Eco-Cell, please visit www.ecocell.org
Why should I recycle my cell phone?
- Help the environment! Cell phones and their accessories contain a large number of hazardous substances known as Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals (PBTs). Included in the list of PBTs are metals such as antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper and lead, which can linger in the environment and have adverse effects on human health.
- Help animals at the Zoo! Eco-Cell will pay Denver Zoo up to $10 for each working digital cell phone. Funds from the program will support gorilla conservation in the wild and help Denver Zoo in providing world-class care to its wild residents.
- Help wildlife in the Congo! Columbite-tantalite, or Coltan for short, is a dull metallic ore found in major quantities in the eastern areas of the Congo. When refined, coltan becomes metallic tantalum, a heat-resistant powder that can hold a high electrical charge. These properties make it a vital element in creating capacitors used in almost all cell phones, laptops, pagers, and other electronic devices. Coltan mining is occurring illegally in protected lands all across the Congo, thereby endangering wildlife. Mining rebels have overrun Congo’s national parks and are hunting the parks’ endangered elephants and gorillas for food.
- Help people in need! Approximately 80 percent of the phones collected will be refurbished and reused by first-time, low-income users in Latin America or by select local programs, such as battered women’s organizations, senior citizens’ groups, and other groups for emergency 911 calls. All unusable cell phones and accessories will be recycled under strict EPA guidelines by certified recyclers.
Ink for Orangutans!
Rather than throw a used ink cartridge away, guests are encouraged to donate their ink cartridges to Denver Zoo, who has partnered with Orangutan Conservancy and Empties4Cash. They will pay up to $4 for each recycled ink cartridge to raise funds to help protect the world’s most endangered great ape, the orangutan.
 You can also mail your cartridges to:
Denver Zoo
Attn: Ink Cartridge Recycling
2300 Steele Street
Denver, CO 80205
Why should I recycle my used ink cartridge?
- Help the environment! By recycling waste that would otherwise end up in the landfill, you are helping to keep our planet healthy, clean, and debris free.
- Help orangutans! An ink cartridge recycling company will pay Denver Zoo for each working empty ink cartridge. Funds from the program will be delivered from Denver Zoo to the Orangutan Conservancy, a non-profit dedicated to the conservation of orangutans and their habitat by preserving the remaining orangutan populations and by promoting the changes that are needed to preserve their natural habitat. The Orangutan Conservancy accomplishes these goals by providing funding and other support to various projects throughout Indonesia and Malaysia.
ZOOP: A Blooming Success!
And no one contributes more generously to our recycling efforts than our very own residents. Some, of course, contribute in more sizable amounts than others, but what's important is that they all do their part. And once they do, we waste no time recycling their exotic contributions into a wonderfully exquisite manure compost we affectionately (and appropriately) call ZOOP!
 Here's the real scoop on ZOOP:
- ZOOP is 100% natural compost produced exclusively for Denver Zoo. It is weed free, odor free and contains no harmful pathogens. Recycling (i.e. composting) the Zoo's exotic manure waste not only saves shrinking landfill space, it produces a high quality, highly beneficial soil amendment.
- ZOOP is good for the soil! ZOOP conditions tired soil by replenishing it with essential organic matter.
- ZOOP conserves water! Organic matter acts like a sponge. By increasing the amount of organic matter in your soil, you can increase its water holding capacity by up to four times!
- ZOOP is a natural plant fertilizer. Think of ZOOP as a 24-hour buffet for plants and flowers.
- ZOOP comes in unique gift tins. A can of ZOOP is perfect for house plant care and can be purchased at Denver Zoo's gift shop.
Cars for Charity!
Do you have an unwanted vehicle and you’re not sure what to do with it? Cars Helping Charities provides a hassle-free way to take your car and turn it into a donation to Denver Zoo! Call 303-423-CARS or click here to donate your car and Cars Helping Charities will take your information, handle all the paperwork, tow your vehicle at no charge, and sell it with the proceeds directed to Denver Zoo. Your gift also qualifies as a tax deduction. Cars Helping Charities has benefited more than 600 Colorado non-profits, including the Zoo!
|
