Hearts for Hearing - Donate Cell Phones

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On average Americans replace their cell phones every 12 months.  Over 65 million cellular phones are stockpiled in U.S. households creating 30,000 tons of potentially hazardous waste.  By 2005, an estimated 130 million cellular phones will be discarded annually in the U.S. alone. 

Cell phones contain toxic substances including Arsenic, Anitmony, Beryllium, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Nickel and Zinc which leach into soil and groundwater from landfills and from highly toxic dioxins & furans during incineration.

These toxins have been associated with cancer and a range of reproductive neurological and developmental disorders.  The cadmium from a single phone is capable of polluting 158,200 gallons of water.  (That's 2.4 million 8-ounce sodas!)

Some cell phones can be refurbished and resold and when that happens,  Portland Rotary  uses those funds to purchase hearing aids, solar battery chargers and batteries for the hearing impaired people in the Dominican Republic.  This program is called Hearts for Hearing.