Discarded gadgets can help flood victims survive

Dubai: Recycling your phone through two retailers in the UAE will ensure a donation is made to support the millions of people displaced by recent floods in Pakistan.

The Green Foundation, a Dubai-based electronics recycler has partnered with Emax and Choithram to raise money for Unicef.

Since early July, floods in Pakistan have killed at least 1,600 people, affected more than 18 million and inflicted nearly $43 billion (Dh157 billion) worth of damage to infrastructure and agriculture.

More than 400,000 people in Balochistan have been displaced and another 600,000 were left homeless from the neighbouring Sindh province. Millions live in tents.

For every unwanted mobile phone, laptop, digital camera, iPod or MP3 players and games consoles taken to the stores for recycling, the current value of the item will be determined and the amount donated to Unicef.

"Even a phone with a value of Dh25 can help get 70 people vaccinated against malaria. Every phone will be worth something and can still do a lot of good," said Jonathan Tozer, Marketing and Charities Liaison Director, The Green Foundation.

Drop boxes

Drop boxes will be in all Emax electronics stores and Choithram supermarkets in the UAE to allow consumers to deposit their unwanted electronics. The Green Foundation was founded in January 2010, and sends electronic items to be recycled in the UK by its partner company ShP Limited based in Lancaster. Every item will be 100 per cent recycled to the highest industry standards, said Tozer.

In August alone around 2,500 mobile phones were recycled by The Green Foundation through Emax and the ongoing recycling scheme at the store which rewards participants.

Neelesh Bhatnagar, chief executive officer of Emax Middle East said the Emax Group wish to do as much as possible to help with the current urgent need for aid in Pakistan.

The scheme will run for at least one month in all UAE Emax and Choithram stores in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Al Ain.

"We are really reaching out not only to Choithram customers but also the wider UAE public to help our neighbours abroad. This scheme will not only provide much needed essential funds, but with recycling involved will also benefit the local environment," said L.T. Pagarani, Choithram supermarket chairman.

"Everyone has old electronics in their drawers at home, and the simple act of donation can save lives in terrible situations such as these — as well as helping the environment," he added.

Doorhangers will be distributed throughout the city and hung up on door handles to spread awareness about the scheme.