Bake sales, Bingo and pancake breakfasts have their place, but senior centers across America are raking in thousands by recycling cell phones.

The program is sponsored by the National Council on Aging and is fairly simple. Senior centers collect cell phones. When they have a full box, they print off a pre-paid UPS label and send it to Cellular Recycling, then the company mails a check to the senior center. The NCOA is touting it as a green fundraising effort.

I just want to know who thought of pairing seniors and cell phone recycling, because I want them to plan my next fundraiser. The unlikely pair is proving to be very successful. A note just popped into my inbox from the Iowa City Senior Center, reporting about $3,200 in cash after about two years of recycling.

Along with the total came an expansion announcement. Beginning in 2009, the same program will also accept small electronics. It doesn’t list what those items are, but I’m assuming anything that could be easily placed in the collection box.

I’ve got a couple cell phones that could be donated to the cause. I’ll have to save them for my next trip to Iowa City. There are drop-off locations in the east and west Fairway stores, the Iowa City and Coralville Co-op stores, Iowa City, City Hall and in the lobby of the Senior Center.

If you know of any other participants in the eastern Iowa area, leave a comment.

And happy recycling!

-jj

Posted under Web/Tech