Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, Iowa)

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The Platteville Police Department is ramping up efforts to benefit victims of domestic violence as well as senior citizens by recycling unused cellphones.

The department partners with the 911 Cell Phone Bank, a nationwide nonprofit organization that collects and distributes free emergency phones. The phones that are distributed are only capable of calling 911.

According to Lt. Jeff Haas, the collection effort was developed in 2008 by a former city official. Many of the phones are given to Family Advocates, the city’s local domestic violence and sexual assault shelter.

“We want to advertise the effort more,” Haas said. “They need them, and so does the Senior Center. You have some senior citizens who need to have a phone in case of an emergency. They might not have a link to emergency services by 911. This all benefits the community.”

Haas said the department can order as many refurbished cellphones as needed so long as they have some to send back to the company. He said the program gives the department a no-investment revenue stream that requires minimal resources, including no shipping costs.

There also is an environmental benefit to keep the phones out of the landfills. Haas said the average American owns at least two cellphones. He cited reports that estimate there are more than 500 million cellphones “stockpiled” in U.S. homes.

The 911 Cell Phone Bank says cellphone circuit boards contain toxins such as arsenic, copper, mercury and zinc. Many chemicals found in cellphones have the potential to be released into the air and groundwater when burned in incinerators or disposed of in landfills.

In May 2004, the 911 Cell Phone Bank was created to provide an ongoing and readily available source of 911 cellphones and funds to meet unexpected and urgent needs of participating law enforcement and affiliated victim services. Since its inception, it has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars and provided thousands of cellphones for victim services organizations nationwide. For more information, visit www.911cellphonebank.org. Dubuque has a similar phone recycling program in conjunction with the Dubuque YMCA/YWCA domestic violence program. Platteville Police Department recently started a different collection program. In April, the department installed a prescription-drug dropoff box in its lobby, which is also where unwanted cellphones may be dropped off.

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