UAE Corporates and Government Authorities get behind Envirofone Campaign

Stuart Fleming and Brian Wilkie from EnviroServe watch on as Dr Wafi Dawood, Head of the Excellence Office at the KHDA recycles his old mobile phone

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has stepped up its efforts in support of the nationwide EnviroFone campaign, through the introduction of mobile phone recycling boxes in their office.

The KHDA has provided significant backing for the EnviroFone Schools Campaign since it was launched in November 2007. The campaign aims to increase environmental awareness in primary schools and gather mobile phones for recycling via 400 drop boxes in schools across the UAE.

KHDA employees now have the opportunity to extend their support of EnviroFone and hand in their old and broken mobile phones and unwanted mobile accessories such as handsets and batteries.

At the end of 2007, staff learned that the EnviroFone initiative had been introduced in their office. Collection boxes are now in place in all KHDA reception areas.

Ibrahim Al Zu’bi, Head of Environmental Education Projects at the KHDA said, "We are excited to bring this initiative right here into our office. The introduction of drop boxes in private and public sector offices and educational institutions is one simple step we can all take to reduce pollution and protect our environment."

"We are very happy to have KHDA as a supporter of the schools campaign and to see them introduce the recycling programme within their own offices," said Stuart Fleming, Managing Director of EnviroFone. "KHDA take environmental issues very seriously and are committed to building awareness of the campaign, both internally and externally."

EnviroFone continues to receive calls from private and public sector companies and educational institutions across the UAE, keen to support the campaign and introduce recycling boxes in their office.

EnviroFone was launched in June 2007 under the patronage of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Environment & Water, telecommunications companies Etisalat and du, and the charity Gulf For Good.

The campaign aims to prevent thousands of unwanted mobile phones being dumped carelessly, thereby preventing leakage of toxins which can seriously damage the environment and pollute water supplies.

For every phone collected, five dirhams is donated to Gulf for Good, the UAE-based charity that organises adventure challenges to raise funds for carefully selected needy causes.

EnviroFone drop boxes are located at ENOC petrol stations in Dubai, all ADNOC petrol stations in Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates, Etisalat and du business centres, Spinneys supermarkets, Magrudy’s Book Stores, Lamcy Plaza in Dubai, Mall of the Emirates, Deira City Centre, Sharjah City Centre, Ajman City Centre and FedEx locations in the UAE.

 - Danielle Fanning, Total Communications Dubai - also photos