Press Release Template

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Use - (insert date)

RUBBISH MATTERS TO (name of group/org)!

They say one person’s rubbish is another person’s treasure - this is certainly true for (name of group/org) who have just launched a new Recycling Appeal that will turn old mobile phones, PDAs and used printer cartridges into much needed funds for the organisation.  

(name of group representative) of (name of group/org) said: “Fundraisers traditionally call for donations of money, but not ours! Instead, we want items usually placed in the bin.  

“With fancy new mobiles coming onto the market every month, people are replacing their handsets more than ever.  The old ones usually end up binned, or are thrown in a cupboard or drawer, adding to the millions of redundant mobiles piling up across Europe.”   

(name of group/org), which (briefly describe nature of group/charity’s work), is running their fundraising recycling campaign in partnership with experts at the Recycling Appeal, who will give the group around €7 for every mobile phone and around €1.50 for every printer cartridge collected.  

(name of group representative) of (name of group/org) said:  “Lots of offices bin their inkjet and toner cartridges too – why not donate them instead? You’ll be helping our valuable work, and you’ll be helping the environment at the same time.”

When mobiles and cartridges are binned they end up in landfill sites where they can cause pollution – as they slowly break down, chemicals can leak into the surrounding soil.  By recycling them, you protect the environment.

To participate in this eco-friendly fundraiser, simply drop off your unwanted phones/cartridges at (address of group/appropriate drop off point).  You can also hand them in at the following drop-off points: (include list if applicable) or call 1800 933 616 for a freepost envelope.

To find out more about the Recycling Appeal, visit www.recyclingappeal.ie or call 1800 933 616.

- ENDS -
 For further information contact:

(Insert your full name and DAYTIME telephone number here)

NOTES TO EDITORS:
Printer Cartridges
1. More than 1.1 billion inkjet cartridges are used annually around the world - laid end to end this would be 129 times as long as the Great Wall of China 
2. Each discarded empty laser printer cartridge adds approximately three pounds of waste to our landfills 
3. The plastic used in a typical cartridge is made of engineering grade polymers and is expected to take up to 1000 years to decompose 
4. If the empty printer cartridges the people of the world throw away each year were stacked end to end they would be able to circle the earth – that’s over 38,400 kilometers 

Mobile Phones
1. There are now more mobile phones than people in Ireland 
2. The average mobile phone user will replace their handset once every 18 months. 
3. It is estimated that 1.5 million mobile phones were replaced in Ireland in 2005 – that’s enough to stretch the length of the Dublin needle almost 2000 times
4. Some mobile phones and their accessories contain some of the most dangerous substances known to man.

(Name of Org / Group)
(website address)

1. Insert key facts

2. Insert key facts

3. Insert key facts

The Recycling Appeal
www.recyclingappeal.ie

1.	The Recycling Appeal is a programme run by Redeem.

2.	Redeem is seven years old and employs close to 90 staff in the Ireland and UK.

3.	Redeem has recycled over 2million kg of mobile phones and printer cartridges since 1999

4.	Redeem is ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), ISO 9001 (Quality Management), EMAS (Eco Management Audit Scheme), Positive about Disabled and Investors In People accredited.