Disposal and service company collects old cell phones

"Cell phones out!" is the motto of an information stand of the Entsorgungs- und Servicebetrieb (ESB) next Tuesday, June 7. From 9 a.m. to noon, waste consultant Petra Tacke will be accepting old cell phones on St. George's Square near the fountain. The devices are then professionally recycled, any existing data is guaranteed to be destroyed, informs the city of Bocholt.

According to NABU, there are more than 100 million old or defective cell phones in German households. Often, old treasures are still stored in drawers, no longer needed but kept as a reserve in case one breaks.

As a rule, they remain there unused. However, the devices contain valuable materials that are too good for the drawer. Manufacturing a smartphone or cell phone requires 60 different chemical elements that are mined around the world.

Cell phone recycling conserves resources

After all, 17 metals can be recovered by recycling old cell phones, and plastics can also be recycled. Before handing in the devices, all data should be deleted and the SIM and memory cards removed. In addition, the batteries should be removed from the devices, if not permanently installed, and delivered separately.

Also to be handed in at the recycling center

The campaign on St. George's Square is a special campaign by the waste advisory service to draw attention to our handling of cell phones. Outside of this campaign, it is possible to hand in used cell phones at the recycling center during regular opening hours.