Big-hitting Barnwood joins mobile phone recycling campaign

Lister Unified Communications has teamed up with Punchline-Gloucester.com to encourage Gloucestershire businesses and residents to recycle their old phones, with proceeds going to The Nelson Trust.

This week, Gloucester-based construction firm Barnwood came on board with the campaign, encouraging its employees to recycle their phones for charity.

The old phones either get refurbished and upcycled or broken down as their parts contain tiny parts of precious metals.

The Nelson Trust, based in Stroud, brings hope and long-term recovery to lives affected by addiction and multiple disadvantages.

A growing number of businesses have already come on board to support the campaign, including the Spirax Group, Cass Stephens, Forest Green Rovers and Enterprise Mobility.

Mobile phone recycling bins have also been placed in the county's six Growth Hubs - in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester, Tewkesbury and Mitcheldean.

Nathanael Challacombe, head of HSQE and sustainability at Barnwood, said: "Barnwood are proud to support The Nelson Trust through a local IT recycling scheme, along with other local supporters such as Blue Sky signs and Lister's. 

"This not only gives technology a second life, reducing waste and environmental impact, but also supports the fantastic work the Nelson Trust does to support vulnerable people in our community."

Mark Owen, Punchline-Gloucester.com editor, said: "It's great to have a company like Barnwood backing the campaign which is in its third year. We've kickstarted the campaign again. We want to make it bigger and better and get more businesses on board and collect as many phones as possible.

"We know that people have a sentimental value to their old mobile. It's like a close friend and could be a relative's old phone and they don't like to let go of it. This is a way to recycle something and help very vulnerable people in their time of need and do something good for the community. Please dig deep into your cupboards and drawers or and start collecting at your business. We need one mobile phone champion to go round and collect from their colleagues and spread it wider.

Gloucestershire-based charity ITSA recently donated a box of mobile phones for recycling to the campaign

"We're trying to encourage business champions to reach out to their families and friends. All you need to do is put them in a cardboard box and we will come and collect them. I'm off today to pick up 80phones from an old people's charity."

Research by Giffgaff indicates that more than 100 million unused devices worth a collective £14.1 billion are gathering dust in houses. On average, each UK adult possesses at least two unused mobile devices at home, with another two devices having been discarded in the bin. Despite the potential value, many end up in landfill sites.

Phone donors are advised to wipe all their private information off their devices before dropping them off, but Lister's experts can clear them, if necessary.

The initiative is being supported by Gloucester-based BiGDUG, which has supplied the recycling bins, and Blue Sky Signs which created all the signage for the bins.

To volunteer as a mobile phone recycling champion or to have your box of used mobile phones picked up, email andy.jarrett@nelsontrust.com or mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk.

‍