A MOBILE phone recycling company has partnered with Landcare Australia for the month of August in an effort to clean up communities and improve future sustainability.
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MobileMuster provide a free, environmentally friendly mobile phone recycling program to curb the estimated five million broken and forgotten phones sitting in draws across the country.
Every phone recycled this month will go towards supporting Landcare Australia's efforts, including those branches in and around Wagga.
Head of MobileMuster Spyro Kalos said the partnership was an effort to motivate people into taking more action.
"It gives a double impact for recycling, because while it's fantastic we will be recovering recycled materials, we have also set a goal of recycling 20,000 phones to help fund Landcare's purchases of trees and shrubs," he said.
"The natural, and particularly Australian, environment has copped a hiding this year with fire, floods and drought so this is a great way to support nature's recovery."
With 3500 drop off points for mobile phone recycling around the country and an option to post it away as well, Mr Kalos said there was no reason not to get on board.
"The second most common reason we see people holding on to their old phones is that they're concerned about the data on them, but any data on phones recycled through us is destroyed when we get the phone," he said.
Executive officer of Murrumbidgee Landcare Tina De Jong said any partnership within the Landcare organisation was valuable.
"Murrumbidgee Landcare encourages participation and partnerships at all levels of Landcare, as ultimately it helps us to support the local Landcare Groups like Wagga Urban Landcare," she said.
"Both Landcare Australia and NSW Landcare, along with these private partnerships are vital for us to channel resources to these local groups."
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Ms De Jong said the recent bushfires took their toll on the region, and all support was welcome.
"At the moment we have Bushfire recovery grants from Landcare Australia to help protect unburnt patches outside the fire area," she said.
"We also have a Landcare NSW partnership about to invest in Creek habitat works in Wagga.
"After such an overwhelming year simple things people can do to support Landcare and environmental recovery are good for all, be that rounding up your old mobiles to raise funds for Landcare work or coming along to help us plant out our future creek project."
All brands and types of mobile phones, plus their batteries, chargers and accessories, are accepted and then recycled safely and sustainably.
Wagga has 10 drop off points, which can be found here.