Sports clubs throughout Norway have so far collected more than 60,000 old mobile phones in a joint initiative with Telenor. The great results have secured more than two million Norwegian Kroner in income for the teams.
"In a little more than four months, Norwegian sports clubs have collected nearly double the number of mobile phones than was recycled in the whole of 2010. We are very impressed with the efforts so far," says Torild Uribarri, Director of Communication and Corporate Responsibility at Telenor Norway.
By the beginning of October, Telenor recorded 61,893 used phones delivered by sports clubs throughout Norway. The total amount of mobile phones recycled in Norway in 2010 was, in comparison, 35,000 according to estimates from the Norwegian recycling company Elretur.
Ready for the final sprint
Norwegian sports clubs are now in the final active phase of the collection, and there is a great deal of activity throughout Norway.
"It feels good to beat the Norwegian record in recycling, but we think this is just the beginning," says Boerre Rognlien, President of the Norwegian Olympics and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sport (NIF).
The sports clubs are collecting used mobile phones until the end of October. 500 sports clubs from all over Norway are involved in this national initiative.
"A number of clubs have yet to send in the old phones they have collected, and a number of people still have used mobile phones in their drawers at home. We hope that everyone in Norway will look for old phones they no longer use and help out the sports clubs on their final lap," says Rognlien.
Open to new participants in January
A number of clubs have wanted to join the recycling campaign. The first 500 spots were grabbed within three hours of registration being opened.
"So far, it looks as though this joint initiative is a key to increasing the number of recycled mobile phones in Norway, and we are very keen to continue this collaboration with the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF). Which is why we are open to new clubs joining the effort in January," says Uribarri from Telenor.
IMAGE TEXT: Blindheim IL from Ålesund is currently leading in the mobile recycling campaign. They have collected 3,140 used mobiles, thus earning NOK 109,900 so far. From left: Iver Osborg Myklebust, Martin Dahle, Amund Emil Muri Froeysa, and Eivind Erstad Skovly. PHOTO: BLINDHEIM IL.
Contact:
Kristine Meek, Corporate Responsibility Manager in Telenor, Tel.: 918 854 05, e-mail: Kristine.meek@telenor.com (mailto:Kristine.meek@telenor.com)
Morten Schoenfeldt, Marketing Director at the Norwegian Olympics and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sport (NIF), Tel.: 922 00 878, e-mail: morten.schonfeldt@idrettsforbundet.no (mailto:morten.schonfeldt@idrettsforbundet.no)
The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: Telenor via Thomson Reuters ONE
