Zagreb Zoo

Date: 28.09.2011.

date: September 28th, 2011

In the world today, the number of mobile phones exceeds 5 billion devices. If we were to compare this number with total number of people on the planet that would mean that 7 out of 10 people own a mobile phone. On average, a mobile phone user changes his phone every 14 months. What happens to these old mobile phones? Where are they discarded? Are they being recycled? In the US, one of the most developed countries, only one of ten manufactured mobile phones is recycled. If we do the math we get the number of some 14 000 tons of discarded mobile phones in the US only. The situation is not much better in Croatia! The number of mobile network users in Croatia reached almost 6.5 million and one can only conclude that almost the same number of mobile devices is used.

Old and discarded mobile phones leak tens of dangerous chemicals into nature: Cobalt, Lithium, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Nickel an Cadmium which is considered one of the most poisonous elements in the world. In order to manufacture more mobile phones not enough recycled mobile phones are used but more and more new mines are created in search of necessary raw materials. The highest number of such mines is in central Africa in tropical rainforests, the natural habitat of gorillas and chimpanzees. Because of such mines, the number of eastern or mountain gorillas in the Kahuzi Biega national park in Congo has dropped by half.

Through mobile phone recycling we could lower the necessity to cut down tropical rainforests, protect the habitats of great apes and protect nature form harmful chemicals. “Man, where´s your mobile phone” is a big campaign of collecting old and discarded mobile phones in Croatia. All gathered mobile phones will be delivered to the certified recycling yard and thus lower harmful effects on the nature, especially gorillas and chimpanzees.

The campaign is organised by Zagreb Zoo as part of EAZA’s Ape campaign.

Partners and sponsors of the campaign are OTP bank, National Geographic magazine and City Center One shopping mall.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED?
The campaign is award oriented and consists of two parts: the first part is intended for all those who have old mobile phones and want to discard them properly while the second part is intended for primary as well as high schools.

The beginning of the campaign is on the 2nd of October, when Zagreb Zoo celebrates World Animal Day. The end of the award part of the campaign for individuals is on the 15th of November, while for schools the award part of the campaign lasts until the 30th of November this year.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO?
It is only necessary to bring and old or discarded mobile phone and drop it in the recycling box. In order to participate in the award part of the campaign, it is necessary to write a note alongside your mobile phone with contact information (name, last name, address, phone number, email) and a short message about why it is important to save the gorillas, chimpanzees and/or their habitat. Three most lucky competitors will get valuable prizes.

Schools, or more precisely classes, that collect the most mobile phones can expect valuable prizes and a big surprise. Classes or groups that collect most old mobile phones will get a laptop, get to socialize with a croatian star Bojan Jambrošić, subscription to the most famous nature magazine and other valuable prizes.

WHERE TO DISPOSE OF THE OLD MOBILE PHONES?
Individuals can:
- Drop their mobile phones in the box at the entrance to Zagreb Zoo
- Drop their mobile phones in the box at City Center One shopping mall
- Drop their mobile phones into the box at branch offices of OTP bank in Zagreb
- Send via post office to the following address: Zoo Zagreb, Maksimirski perivoj bb, 10000 Zagreb, noted to “Man, where´s your mobile phone”.

Classes collect their mobile phones in schools and they need to either personally deliver them to Zagreb Zoo, or send them by mail, together with their personal information.

WHAT AWARDS ARE WAITING FOR YOU?
Awards for individual collecting of old mobile phones:
     1. Annual ticket to Zagreb Zoo for the entire family + gift package
     2. 2x six-months subscription to National Geographic magazine
          + National Geographic book
     3. 3x Zagreb Zoo gift package

Awards for classes/groups that collect the most mobile phones:
     1. Laptop + Socialising with Croatian star Bojan Jambrošić
     2. 3x six-months subscription to National Geographic magazine
          + All magazines numbers until September 2011.
     3. 5x gift package to each class (Zagreb Zoo posters,
          National Geographic magazines…)

Sponsors and partners of the award campaign Man, where is your mobile phone?