A group of concerned older Boy Scouts are asking the public to turn in old cell phones on Earth Day and everyday to help protect the environment.

WEST JORDAN, UT (PRWEB) April 18, 2004--Consumers are now abandoning over 10 million cell phones a month in favor of newer models, creating a threat to human health and the environment because the many toxic materials they contain end up in landfills – and a concerned group of teens want to do something about it.

“Earth Day is the perfect time to ask people to turn in their old, unused cellular phones,” said Terral Tyler, 14, an Eagle Scout and member of Venture Crew 2179. Venture Crews are part of the Boy Scouts of America, and provide high adventure activities for boys who are 14 to 20.

Earth Day is on April 22.

“I read a report on ways to keep dangerous materials from damaging our environment, and the best way to do that is to reuse as many items as possible. I asked my BSA Venture Crew to start a drive to collect old cell phones as a way to show others what can be done if we try,” said Tyler.

“Waste in the Wireless World,” a report issued by INFORM, warns of the toxic chemicals that could end up in our environment if the more than 130 million abandoned cell phones a year are tossed into landfills.

Tyler and the members of his crew did some research and found a company that collects unused cell phones and puts them back into use in foreign countries where people cannot afford the newer models.

“It’s amazing how may people have phones just lying around in drawers. Companies have whole boxes of phones in closets. No one seems to know what to do with them, and eventually they throw them all away, so that’s what we are trying to prevent by collecting them,” explained David Landeen, 16, an Eagle Scout and president of the crew.

“We can refurbish unused wireless phones and put them back into use in poorer countries, so we are willing to pay individuals and groups to send old phones to us,” explained James Mosieur of RMS Communications Group, Inc. from Ocala, Fla.

RMS began http://CellForCash.com less than two years ago, and many groups and individuals have begun collecting cell phones, but many others are not aware of the program.

“We offer both individuals and non-profit groups the opportunity to send us old cell phones in working condition, and we pay them from $3 to $75 per phone. We even pay the cost of shipping the old phones to us,” said Mosieur.

“This has been the best fundraising program we have ever used. We get to do something to help the environment, help people in poorer countries, and raise money all at the same time,” said Michael Bresnahan, 14, another Eagle Scout in the crew.

The crew plans to use the money they earn from the on-going project to pay for a week-long white water canoe trip to Alaska in the summer of 2005. They say they will continue to collect phones from neighbors and businesses locally, as well as from anyone in the country wanting to help.

Individuals or companies who wish to donate old phones to the effort may do so by contacting David Bresnahan, the crew advisor. The young men will pick up phones from individuals or companies in the Salt Lake City area, or arrange for free shipping for those in other parts of the country. Call (801) 562-5362 or send an e-mail to e-mail protected from spam bots to make arrangements

BSA Ventures with Cell Phones BSA Venture members David Landeen, Michael Bresnahan, and Terral Tyler and their crew members have been hard at work collecting old cell phones.

Venture Crew 2179 is sponsored by Bresnahan and Associates, and is chartered by the Boy Scouts of America in the Great Salt Lake Council. The members have a website at http://rangercrew.bravepages.com/RangerCrew.htm. The Great Salt Lake Council maintains a website at http://www.gslc-bsa.org, and the national organization site is at http://www.scouting.org.

Contact:
James Mosieur, RMS Communications Group, Inc.
800-627-2022, e-mail protected from spam bots

David Bresnahan, BSA Venture Crew 2179 Advisor,
801-562-5362, e-mail protected from spam bots

Photo Caption:
BSA Venture members David Landeen, Michael Bresnahan, and Terral Tyler and their crew members have been hard at work collecting old cell phones.

Style Guide Information:
The full name of the national organization is Boy Scouts of America. National headquarters is in Irving, Texas. Cub Scouting is for boys 8 through 10. Members are Cub Scouts or Cubs who belong to Cub Scout Packs. Leaders are Cubmasters. Boy Scouting is for boys 11 through 17. Members are Boy Scouts who belong to Boy Scout Troops, and adult leaders are Scoutmasters. Varsity Scouting is for boys 14 through 15. Members are Varsity Scouts who belong to a Varsity Team, and adult leaders are a Varsity Coach. Venturing, not Venture Scouting, is for Ventures who are young men and young women ages 14 through 20 who belong to a Venture Crew, and adult leaders are Venture Advisors. The Order of the Arrow is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America. Members are Arrowmen and adult leaders are Order of the Arrow Advisors. Other correct terms are Scouts, Scouters, Scouting, Troop, Team, Crew, OA, and BSA.