As Earth Day Nears, Verizon Wireless Offers Ways For New York Residents To Recycle Wireless Phones And Spent Batteries

ROCHESTER, NY — According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States recycles only 28% of its waste. Last year, Verizon Wireless collected nearly 45,000 no-longer used phones through its HopeLine® program in New York State. This year, Verizon Wireless again makes it simple for people in the area to increase the number of phones collected and do their part to protect the Earth's resources.

"We are proud to give consumers an easy way to recycle their no-longer-used wireless devices this Earth Day," said Ken Dixon, president of Verizon Wireless' Upstate New York Region. "Preserving the Earth's resources is an important initiative and one that extends to all of us as individuals. Rather than throwing wireless phones away or letting them collect dust, consumers can donate them to HopeLine and help protect the environment."

Wireless Phone Recycling
HopeLine makes it easy for local residents to recycle on Earth Day -- and every day of the year. HopeLine regularly holds phone collection drives at sporting events, concerts and store openings. Wireless customers can also drop-off old wireless phones and accessories from any wireless service provider at any local Verizon Wireless Communications Store.

Wireless phones that are collected through HopeLine at Verizon Wireless Communication Stores are recycled or refurbished, with proceeds benefiting local victims of domestic violence and local non-profit advocacy agencies. Since the HopeLine phone recycling efforts began in 2001, consumers across the U.S. have donated nearly three million phones to HopeLine and more than 600,000 phones have been recycled.

Battery Recycling Programs
In addition to wireless phones, Verizon Wireless also collects spent rechargeable batteries for recycling. The Verizon Wireless Cell Phone Battery Recycling program is an easy way for customers to join with Verizon Wireless to help conserve the earth's natural resources and prevent spent batteries from entering landfills. In 2005 alone, nearly 150,000 pounds of batteries were recycled through the national HopeLine and Charge Up to Recycle programs, almost double the amount recycled in 2004.

For more information on Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program or for instructions on donating wireless phones or rechargeable batteries, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at 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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