The cellphone trash bin at SM
Protect yourself from toxic waste
The Cellphone Trash Bin by Nokia at SM City Iloilo.Cellphones and their accessories, as well as other related gadgets that come in our wireless and information-based age, contain toxic materials or bio accumulative chemicals called PBTs. These PBTs are antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc. If they are improperly disposed in landfills and burned in incinerators, they are released to soil, groundwater, air and waterways. Then, they are accumulated in the fatty tissues of animals, thereby building up the food chain to toxic levels even if they are released in small quantities. This is why there is increased incidence of cancer, and some reproductive, neurological and development disorders. Children are most in danger because their developing organs will be affected by the toxic onslaught in their bodies.
It is for this reason that we should not just throw away our cellphones in the trash can. Yes, they may be small but they accumulate, too.
To make it easy for Ilonggos to dispose their cellphones, batteries and chargers, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. decided to place a Cellphone Waste Bin in all SM Supermalls. The project is in cooperation with Nokia, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The properly disposed cellphones and accessories.SM City Iloilo now has one, located at the second floor. It’s a see-through container that comes with a green colored banner provided by Nokia. It states, “Drop off your old phone to save our environment. If restoring your old phone is no longer possible, then recycle it to restore nature. Bring your old phone, battery or charger here and we will take care of the rest. For every kilo of raw materials collected, Nokia will donate P20 to Bantay Kalikasan to help care for the environment. We could save nearly 80,000 tons of raw materials together if every mobile user recycled just one phone.”
So, before you throw away your cellphones, batteries and chargers, set them aside and wait for your next visit to SM City Iloilo and drop them there. It does not take much of your time and energy actually, but you’ve done your best for yourself, others and the environment.