Last Christmas, MobileMuster and Oxfam called on Australians to recycle their old mobile phones to make a difference to the planet and families struggling against poverty and thanks to your generosity 1000 chickens were provided to families in Laos.

For each mobile phone recycled using the free reply paid mailing label, MobileMuster donated the gift of a chicken valued at $10 through Oxfam Unwrapped.

Australians showed they weren’t chicken, scratching through their cupboards and drawers at home to send in their old mobiles and accessories for recycling.

The ‘Old Phones for Chickens’ campaign resulted in:

• Over 2,396 old mobiles plus 264 kilograms of batteries and accessories were collected for recycling in 2 ½ weeks.
  
   
• 1000 chickens provided to families in Laos (giving families a source of income and food through the chickens eggs).
  
   
•  456 kg of handsets, batteries, chargers and accessories diverted from landfill.
  
   
• About 1.9 tonne CO2 –e in avoided greenhouse gas emissions by recycling the phones collected.
  
   

“Each mobile phone sent in for recycling has helped to support Oxfam’s work in tackling poverty,” says Oxfam Australia Fundraising Manager, Leigh Stewart. “Those Australian that sent in their old mobile for recycling helped to make a significant difference to the life of a family in Laos.”

MobileMuster Manager, Recycling, Rose Read say:, “Thanks to all the Australians who recycled their old mobile in the lead up to Christmas – recycling a phone that is no longer needed has positively impacted the environment, a family in need and helped to share the festive spirit around the world.”

MobileMuster and Oxfam thank everyone for their involvement and support in the 2009 ‘Old Phones for Chickens’ campaign and look forward to tackling poverty and helping the environment again in 2010.