Friday, 27 August 2010
MobileMuster has announced the first round winners of its 2010 Schools Recycling Challenge with Victorian and New South Wales schools taking out the top awards.
Over 240 schools across Australia registered to compete in the first round of the challenge, running from February to June.
St Thomas’ Primary School Drysdale (VIC) was named as National Winner of the Top Collector by Weight category, having recycled 27 kilograms of old and broken mobile phones, chargers and accessories during the challenge period.
Demonstrating the fierce level of competition in the challenge, Billanook College of Mooroolbark (VIC), was named as runner-up on a countback, being a bigger school than St Thomas’.
Proving small schools are capable of big things, St Patrick’s Primary School, Walcha (NSW), was recognised as National Winner of the Highest Weight Collected Per Student category with an average of 177 grams of unused mobiles and accessories recycled for each of its 42 students.
The phones and accessories collected by students during the first round period resulted in almost 500 native trees being made available for Landcare Australia through MobileMuster’s Old Phones More Trees program.
Rose Read, Recycling Manager MobileMuster, says the trees will be planted to help protect some of the Nation’s most endangered species and contribute to rehabilitating two of Australia’s agricultural heartlands – the Murray River and Western Australia’s central-eastern wheatbelt.
“The winning schools and their communities have put in a tremendous effort this year. The phones and accessories collected by school students will work towards restoring native vegetation, protecting endangered species; and helping to improve the sustainability of two of the Nation’s key food growing areas,” says Ms Read.
The 2010 MobileMuster Schools Recycling Challenge competition also recognised individual efforts, with Carranballac College, Point Cook (VIC) student, Ava Coughlin, taking out the national Top Student Collector title, recycling an individual total of 85 handsets.
For her efforts Ava has been rewarded with a $100 environmental book pack. Schools recognized in the awards received native seedlings and a gift voucher from Officeworks to the combined value of $750 for national prizes and $500 for state prizes.
Officeworks Public Relations Manager, Felicia Booth, says Officeworks is proud to partner with MobileMuster and congratulates all of the winners for their dedication.
“We are proud to be involved in this program with MobileMuster and Landcare Australia and to encourage school students to help restore, protect and learn about critical agricultural areas,” says Ms Booth.
“The students’ efforts in the first round of the MobileMuster Schools Recycling Challenge have been commendable. They’ve certainly set the bar high for the next round of competition over the next six months,” concludes Ms Booth.
The second round of the 2010 MobileMuster Schools Recycling Challenge has commenced and more than 500 schools have already signed up to compete for the top title. Prizes will be awarded in the second half of the year, and for overall collection efforts throughout 2010. Registrations still can be made here
State winners of the Top Collector by Weight category for the first round of the 2010 MobileMuster Schools Recycling Challenge were:
Honourable mentions also went to Billanook College (VIC) and Parkfield Primary School (WA).
State winners in the Highest Weight Collected Per Student category for the first round of the 2010 MobileMuster Schools Recycling Challenge were:
State winners of the Top Student Collector category for the first round of the MobileMuster Schools Recycling Challenge were:
Recycling an old mobile phone is free and easy, simply:
1. Drop them off at your mobile phone retailer /Officeworks / local collection point - to find out where go to the locator or call 1300 730 070
2. Post them in by picking up a free MobileMuster recycling satchel from Australia Post
The Press Release can be downloaded in pdf here
ENDS
Interviews are available with:
• Recycling Manager MobileMuster, Rose Read
• Public Relations Manager Officeworks, Felicia Booth
For more information or to arrange an interview please
contact:
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Victoria Rooney
IMPACT Communications
(02) 9519 5411, 0408 499 765
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Jillian Greig
IMPACT Communications
(02) 9519 5411, 0422 643 151
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About MobileMuster:
MobileMuster, is a not-for-profit program funded solely by mobile phone manufacturers and network carriers to collect and recycle mobile phones. All mobiles are recycled to the highest environmental standards. None are refurbished or sold for reuse.
For further information on MobileMuster call 1300 730 070
About Officeworks:
Officeworks is Australia’s leading retailer and supplier of office products and solutions for home, business and education.
The first Officeworks store was opened in Victoria in June 1994 and today Officeworks has an Australia-wide network of stores and with its businesschannel offers customers 3 ways to shop: in store, online or by phone.
Officeworks delivers the widest range of office supplies at the lowest prices every day as well as a unique experience for customers.
Officeworks is proud to partner with MobileMuster, and provide our customers and team members access
to mobile phone collection units across our national network of 128 stores.
Did you know:
- Over 90 per cent of a mobile phone and its accessories are recyclable, 0 per cent is biodegradable
- 7 out of 10 Australians have at least one old unused mobile phone at home
- There are over 22 million phone subscribers in Australia
- Australians upgrade or exchange their mobile phone every 18 to 24 months
- One tonne of mobile phone circuits can yield the same amount of precious metals as 110 tonnes of gold ore, 123 tonnes of silver ore and 11 tonnes of copper sulphide ore
- There are an estimated 16 million unused mobile phones stored at home and work that could be recycled
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