Cincinnati Zoo promotes Go Bananas! Challenge to recycle old cell phones

Cell phone users can recycle their old phones and save endangered gorilla habitats thanks to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.

The zoo’s recycling program, Project Saving Species, is part of a national competition, the Go Bananas! Challenge. Coltan, a metallic ore used in cell phones, is mined in endangered habitats in Africa, which causes gorillas to be displaced or poached due to the destruction of their homes.

In an effort to reduce the need for coltan, the zoo is collaborating with The Gorilla Glue Company and Eco-Cell for the fourth year in a row to ask organizations, schools and community youth groups to create to collect and recycle cell phones to help save gorillas.

Cincinnati Zoo Project Manager Molly Szabo says the previous campaign recycled 8,096 devices and raised $5,848.60 between Aug. 1, 2014 and April 14, 2015.

The Go Bananas! Challenge is pretty simple: Collect old phones and turn them into the zoo. The school, business or scout group that collects the most phones wins $4,000. Once a group is registered, it will be provided cell phone collection bins and postage labels or pick-up service.

All phones must be received by April 3, 2016. The winner will be announced April 24, 2016, Szabo says.

Do Good:

• Join the Go Bananas! Challenge and register your group online. 

• Don’t want to participate but have an old phone to recycle? Take it to the Cincinnati Zoo or one of the specified partner drop-off locations.

• For more information on how you can help, contact Molly Szabo.