Through a national programme that encourages people to recycle their old mobile phones, Irish-owned mobile distributor and services provider, BPI Telecom, has handed over a cheque for €200,000 to the Jack & Jill Foundation.
The Irish are known for enthusiastic use of the mobile phone, after all our handset penetration is at 112pc, with 4.7 million mobile phone subscribers.
It is no wonder then that there are an estimated 15 million secondhand phones lying around in the homes throughout Ireland.
BPI take handsets donated by the public and puts them through a grading process after which many are in working order to be refurbished and then used for emerging mobile markets.
However, those that fail to pass the grade are not wasted, they are dismantled and the remaining plastic and batteries are disposed of correctly.
“By supplying their old mobile phones through Jack & Jill collection points around the country Irish consumers are not only contributing to the environment but helping a most worthy charity,” said Brian Egan, sales manager for BPI Telecom.
Jonathon Irwin of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation said that this support from BPI and members of the public was appreciated and accepted as the care they provide is not covered by most state or private insurance schemes.
By Marie Boran
