Win-Win—Recycling Cell Phones through the Verizon HopeLine Program

One win-win that increases your recycling efforts and does a world of good for victims of domestic violence is the Verizon HopeLine Program.

The HopeLine® Program from Verizon Wireless is exclusive to Verizon Wireless. Verizon puts their technology wireless network to work in communities by turning unused wireless phones into support for victims of domestic violence, and helps protect the environment by disposing of wireless phones in an environmentally sound way.  More than one million phones have been donated since the program’s inception in 2001.

Depending upon your agency’s rules for disposing of office phones, it may be possible to recycle old cell phones through it as well. In our office, we informed employees how they could dispose of their old cell phones and feel good knowing that their phones would be re-purposed for a good cause.

Wireless phones given to HopeLine are refurbished and sold for reuse, generating proceeds for the program. If donated phones are unsalvageable, they are recycled in an environmentally sound way, under a zero landfill policy.

Proceeds from the sale of refurbished phones allow Verizon Wireless to provide cash grants to non-profit organizations that support victims of domestic violence or provide education in the community. Phone donations given locally benefit victims of abuse within that geographic area.

It’s pretty easy to set up a program for your office. Click here for more info.

Or, you can start by encouraging donations on an individual basis. Verizon’s HopeLine website has information on how to mail in an old phone using their downloadable shipping label and dropping the box or envelope in the mail. Just print the free postage-paid label available on their website.