2Sustain

Samsung wants to collect and recycle one million mobile phones in 2010.

To that end, the Samsung “Mobile March to a Million” project has launched a nationwide in-school education and recycling program that will teach teens about the importance and ease of mobile phone recycling, while encouraging students, teachers and the community to recycle used mobile phones.

Joining the “March” is easy. Anyone can simply collect used mobile phones, and then Samsung Mobile will reuse the materials and recycle the rest responsibly. For more information, check out this guide.

According to Samsung, nearly 75 percent of obsolete phones, batteries and chargers are stockpiled in drawers and are never properly disposed.  Other estimates are even more dismal. For instance, the EPA says that only about 10 percent of unwanted cell phones are recycled each year.

Recycling not only helps reduce waste, it also prevents toxins from entering landfills and groundwater –and it saves energy and raw materials that would be needed to manufacture new phones.

The Mobile March to a Million is part of Samsung’s overall sustainability platform, called “PlanetFirst.” From the Samsung website:

PlanetFirst is a commitment, a mindset, and a fundamental approach that Samsung believes is critically important as consumers seek to balance their desire for cutting edge technology while pursuing a greener way of life.
PlanetFirst means always considering our impact on the environment first as we continue to work, develop, engineer and design innovative products and solutions to inspire and satisfy our customers. Samsung is committed to providing a better green experience through eco-friendly products, solutions and technologies that benefit our customers’ lives, affirm our shared values, and respect our planet.

The company’s 2009 sustainability report is available here.