Padavan Sponsoring Cell Phone Recycling Drive

 New York State Senator Frank Padavan (Queens) announced today that his district offices in Bellerose and Whitestone will once again be collecting used cell phones in order to recycle them for victims of domestic violence. Last October, Senator Padavan took part in local efforts to collect used cell phones from local constituents to help increase awareness of domestic violence during “National Domestic Violence Prevention Month.”

 “Many of us have an old, unused cell phone that we don’t know what to do with,” Padavan said. “Far too often, these unused phones are discarded in the trash. Each discarded cell phone poses a hazard to our environment. With Earth Day this month, anyone with an unused cell phone is encouraged to recycle them and help protect our environment and victims of domestic violence.”

 From Wednesday April 16th to Wednesday April 30th, Padavan will collect used cell phones and accessories to increase and foster recycling efforts of out-dated and unused cell phones. At the conclusion of the drive, the recycled phones will be donated to Verizon Wireless for use in their Hopeline® wireless phone recycling program. The phones are refurbished, recycled or sold and the proceeds are donated to domestic violence advocacy groups or used to purchase wireless phones and service for survivors. Phones that cannot be refurbished are disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. 

 Hopeline collects cell phones regardless of manufacturer and wireless carrier as a part of their recycling efforts.  All personal data is deleted and “scrubbed” from any donated cell phone to the Hopeline program.

 “Last October over 150 individuals throughout our community donated their unused cell phones to be recycled or donated to local domestic violence victims,” Padavan said. “Working with Verizon Wireless and their Hopeline Program, we were able to put these cell phones in the hands of those who need them the most. This month we once again have the opportunity to make great strides in the fight against domestic violence while protecting our environment.”

Residents will have until Wednesday, April 30th to drop off their unused cell phone, batteries or accessories at Senator Padavan’s district offices. The district offices are located at 89-39 Gettysburg Street in Bellerose and 150-26 14th Avenue in Whitestone. Bellerose office hours are from 9am to 5pm, Monday thru Friday. Whitestone office hours are from 9am to 1pm, Monday thru Friday.