Wireless Phone Recycling Makes Cents for Domestic Violence Victims in New York

ORANGEBURG, NY — One month from today, when a New York State law takes effect requiring wireless phone retailers to accept and recycle old cell phones, it will be business as usual at Verizon Wireless. That's because Verizon Wireless was the first wireless carrier in the nation to collect and recycle old cell phones and has done so since January 1999 — first in New York and then across the nation.

The company's objective was two-fold: to protect the environment and to use the proceeds from recycling and selling older wireless phones to assist survivors of domestic violence.

"Domestic violence awareness and education has been the company's chief community focus since 1995 so it made perfect sense to encourage customers to donate their older equipment to aid domestic violence survivors when they upgraded to newer models," said Charles Hand, president of the company's New York Metro Region. "Today, more than eight years later, our HopeLine® wireless phone recycling program is incredibly successful."

In recognition of the New York law (effective 1/1/07), and to encourage even greater participation in HopeLine recycling, Hand said Verizon Wireless will donate $5, up to a maximum of $25,000, to local domestic violence shelters and advocacy groups for each wireless phone donated at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in New York during January 2007.

New York residents and visitors can donate old wireless phones, batteries and accessories of any make or model, from any wireless carrier, at 133 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in New York State, including 57 in New York Metro. Wireless phone donations also continue to be accepted at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country.

Since 1999, the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program has collected more than 3.5 million wireless phones, and given $2 million in cash grants and nearly $10 million in wireless phones and service to domestic violence organizations. Phones that cannot be refurbished are disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.

"With this new law, there will be many more options available to New Yorkers interested in recycling wireless phones," said Hand. "We encourage them to donate those old phones and accessories to HopeLine, where they will make a difference in the lives of families scarred by domestic violence."

In addition to a successful phone recycling program and funding for non-profit domestic violence organizations, HopeLine includes free wireless service and voice mailboxes for survivors, community and corporate awareness initiatives, and a bilingual "Invest in Yourself" program designed to help survivors re-enter the workforce.

For Verizon Wireless Communications Store locations or to order a phone donation kit by mail, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 57 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 60,000 employees nationwide. The company 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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