NEWS

from the Illinois Senate

State Senator Susan Garrett

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2007

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Susan Garrett (847) 433-2002

GARRETT RESOLUTION TO INCREASE WIRELESS PHONE RECYCLING GAINS APPROVAL

SPRINGFIELD – Last week the Illinois State Senate unanimously approved Senate Joint Resolution 46, sponsored by State Senator Susan Garrett (D – Lake Forest), which seeks to bring greater public awareness to existing wireless phone recycling programs. Senator Garrett is a leading proponent of high-tech recycling in Illinois and believes this measure will help to further educate the state’s 10 million wireless users about the importance and ease of wireless phone recycling.

“I’ve talked to many people who want to be assured that there is a responsible and accessible recycling program in place supported by the wireless industry,” said Senator Garrett. “As I spoke to people about recycling of cell phones, I learned that nine out of ten people hold onto their cell phones and store them in their desk drawer or put them on a shelf because there isn’t any well-publicized program in place for recycling them.”

Senator Garrett’s resolution states that wireless users can take their retired phone to any number of wireless retail stores in Illinois and have it recycled free of charge. Furthermore, many of the leading phone manufacturers include a self-addressed recycling bag-envelope with every new phone they sell to encourage users to mail back the old phone for recycling.

“I hope this Senate resolution will not only help more citizens understand how easy it is to take their old phone out of a drawer and recycle it, but also provide the wireless industry with ideas on how their programs can become more well-known throughout the state,” said Garrett.

These efforts are part of the “Wireless…The New Recyclable™” campaign (www.recyclewirelessphones.com) managed and operated by CTIA – The Wireless Association® in Washington, DC. CTIA is the official trade group of the wireless industry in America and is led by former U.S. Representative and NFL Hall of Fame member Steve Largent.

“I want to first congratulate and commend Senator Garrett for her leadership on this important issue,” said Largent. “In a voluntary and proactive manner, the wireless industry designed and built a national wireless phone recycling program several years ago and we certainly hope that as many Illinoisans as possible take advantage of it. The wireless industry looks forward to continuing to work with Senator Garrett as we grow our recycling efforts in Illinois.”