Lawyers e-Journal
Thursday, Apr. 22, 2010
MBA collects hundreds of cell phones as part of Lawyers Eco-Challenge recycling program
In celebration of Earth Day, the Massachusetts Bar Association
is wrapping up its Lawyers Eco-Challenge cell phone recycling
program, which collected hundreds of cell phones and accessories
from the legal community in the state over the past year.
The MBA has collected and recycled 239 phones, 254 phone chargers
and 90 other accessories that would have otherwise been tossed in
garbage cans since starting the cell phone recycling program in
February 2009. The program was launched in conjunction with Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program.
"Our cell phone recycling program kept hundreds of cell phones out
of landfills that contained dangerous hazardous chemicals, and it
provided a service to our members who sought a way to recycle their
unwanted phones," said Nancy B. Reiner, co-chair of the Energy and
Environment Task Force, which oversees the Eco-Challenge. Reiner
co-chairs the task force with Susan Reid, senior attorney and
director of the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Change
Initiative for the Conservation Law Foundation, which partnered
with the MBA in 2007 to launch the Lawyers Eco-Challenge.
The phones and accessories were collected at five locations:
- MBA headquarters, Boston;
- MBA Western Mass. office, Springfield;
- CLF Massachusetts headquarters, Boston;
- The Green Roundtable's NEXUS Green Building Resource Center,
Boston;
- Seyfarth Shaw, Boston.
HopeLine has collected more than 7
million phones and kept more than 200 tons of electronic waste and
batteries out of landfill since the national recycling program
began in October 2001. The proceeds - including more than 7.9
million in cash grants - benefit organizations running domestic
violence awareness and prevention programming, including YWCA of
Western Massachusetts, the Norfolk County Sheriff's Department and
Boston Area Rape Crisis Center.
Since the 2007 launch of the Eco-Challenge, the MBA and CLF have
issued the MBA Lawyers Environmental Pledge, and published Green
Guidelines for the office, home and landscaping. More than 100
firms, attorneys or organizations throughout the state have joined
to become Pledge Partners.
For more information on the MBA
Lawyers Eco-Challenge, click here.