International Mobile Phone Recycling Day: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about International Mobile Phone Recycling Day (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. International Mobile Phone Recycling Day is observed on January 24th.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of International Mobile Phone Recycling Day, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as intriguing facts you ought to know about International Mobile Phone Recycling Day.

📅 What day is International Mobile Phone Recycling Day 2024?

In 2024, International Mobile Phone Recycling Day is on Tuesday, January 24th. It is the 4th Tuesday in January; in 2024, it is Wednesday. There are until the next observance. You also can view all the cool details and facts about January 24, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

International Mobile Phone Recycling Day was established in 2017 on January 24th. Previously, it was known as International World Mobile Phone Day and was observed on January 26th in 2015 and 2016. This day was part of a larger campaign called The Forest is Calling, initiated by the Jane Goodall Institute in 2015. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about the impact of recycling mobile devices on the ape population in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (E.N.D.C.). It inspired a global movement where individuals commit to ethically and responsibly preserve or dispose of their phones.

📜 International Mobile Phone Recycling Day History

Where do mobile phones and other modern gadgets fit in? “Time” magazine published an article titled “There May Be Conflict Minerals in Your Smartphone” on June 3, 2014. This article revealed that major technology companies source critical metals for their products from mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other central African countries. Unfortunately, some of the funds generated from these activities contribute to violent conflicts in the region, causing numerous casualties, increased crime rates, and environmental damage. In response to this issue, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was passed in 2010, requiring companies to disclose the use of “conflict minerals” in their technology products. As a result, digital businesses are now under more pressure to ensure responsible sourcing of raw materials.

To understand the significance of mobile phones, it is important to trace their evolution. The first portable mobile phone was created by Motorola engineer Martin Cooper in 1973 and carried a price tag of around $10,000. Since then, there have been several prototypes, particularly during the “cellular revolution” in the 1990s. The introduction of Apple’s first iPhone in 2007 marked another milestone in smartphone history. Today, with over half of the global population owning a cell phone, its impact on the world is irreversible.

✅ International Mobile Phone Recycling Day Facts

🔖 We check our phones 110 times a day
Typically, we tend to look at our phones around 110 times per day, and the highest number of interactions takes place during the evening hours between 5 and 8 p.m.

🔖 FOMO is a real thing now
The fear of being without your phone or network is referred to as “nomophobia.”

🔖 Your toilet handle’s cleaner than your phone
Our phones carry almost 18 times more harmful germs than the typical toilet handle due to the fact that we carry them with us constantly.

👍 Why Is International Mobile Phone Recycling Day Important

Every day, over 350,000 cell phones are thrown worldwide. This adds to the 50 million tons of e-waste produced each year. Recycling not only helps to reduce this number and the health consequences it has on all species on this planet, but it also helps to offset market demand. As a result, countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which suffer from corruption and never-ending wars motivated by profit, may benefit more.

E-waste contributes to the discharge of toxic substances into the environment, threatening the health of all living things, including people. More than 200 million people are at risk due to the health issues that e-waste might cause. The majority of this e-waste is dumped in developing nations, putting the people who live there at risk. There is no justice in this, so a grassroots effort is needed to help lessen the harm.

Recycling in any form is always a good idea since it promotes an environmentally conscious and sustainable lifestyle. Being environmentally concerned is not enough; we must also demonstrate our commitment to preventing the deluge of damage that results from our consumption through our actions. Recycling phones reduces the demand for them, and the garbage can be securely disposed of.

🙂 How To Observe International Mobile Phone Recycling Day

⚡ Help get more pledges

⚡ Find a facility near you
In order to improve the convenience of recycling, specific J.G.I. locations in the US collaborate with recycling organizations. You can easily locate a nearby facility or a similar one and discover their methods of disposing or recycling electronic waste. J.G.I. has made this process quite straightforward in the US – all you need to do is gather your e-waste and send it to a collection partner free of charge.

⚡ Heed the call to action
Ironically (or not), technology is also a blessing in the ease with which we can now spread the message.Use social media to spread the word about how important it is to recycle old phones and other electronic gadgets. People who participate in J.G.I’s call to action movement can either vow to retain their mobile phones for longer than the two-year standard, or they can recycle them.

📅 When is International Mobile Phone Recycling Day?

Explore all 🔗 January holidays, including 🔗 Special Interest and other 🔗 Conservation holidays.

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