Earth Day HopeLine Drive In Colorado To Support Survivors Of Domestic Violence

DENVER, CO — In recognition of Earth Day (April 22), Colorado customers with no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories can donate them, in any condition, to Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine® phone recycling program.

Phones are being collected at Verizon Wireless HopeLine booths at Colorado State University’s Earth Day Celebration on Wednesday, April 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the Lory Student Center Plaza and at the Colorado School of Mine’s Earth Day Celebration on Friday, April 24, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Kafadar Commons.

HopeLine collects no-longer-used wireless equipment from any wireless service provider at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide or by mail. Phones donated to HopeLine that can be refurbished are sold for reuse and those without value are recycled in an environmentally sound way under a zero-landfill policy. Proceeds from HopeLine are used to provide wireless phones and cash grants to local shelters and non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness.

According to the wireless industry trade association, there are currently more than 262 million wireless phone subscribers in the United States alone, and studies show that wireless phone users upgrade and replace their phones on average once every 18 months.

“Earth Day is a perfect opportunity to pull those used wireless phones off the shelves and out of the junk drawers so they can be put to good use,” said Melanie Braidich, regional president, Verizon Wireless. “This HopeLine drive is a simple way for everyone who uses a wireless phone to help the environment as well as survivors of domestic violence right here in Colorado.”

Through HopeLine’s national recycling efforts, more than one million no-longer-used wireless phones have been disposed of properly, more than 170,000 pounds of batteries have been recycled and more than 200 tons of electronics waste and batteries have been kept out of landfills. In 2008, Colorado consumers and businesses contributed more than 29,000 no-longer-used wireless phones to the HopeLine phone recycling and refurbishing program.

Verizon Wireless makes it easy for anyone to hold a phone collection drive in their local community, school or workplace on Earth Day and every day. The company supplies collection boxes, posters, brochures and other items free-of-charge to interested individuals and organizations.

For additional information on Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program, including store locations, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline. To print a postage-paid label, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopelinemailinglabel.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving more than 80 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.  

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