Ringing in some festive relief

THE Casey community is being urged to help both a struggling family in Laos and the environment this festive season.
Not-for-profit organisations MobileMuster and Oxfam Unwrapped are asking Australians to recycle their old mobiles this Christmas to help the environment and a family in need.
For every two mobile phones recycled over Christmas and New Year, MobileMuster will purchase a chicken through Oxfam Unwrapped to help a family struggling against poverty in Laos.
MobileMuster research has revealed that 40 per cent of Australians currently have two or more handsets at home that are no longer in use.
Mobile phones aren’t biodegradable but they are nearly 100 per cent recyclable. The recycled materials can be turned into new products such as plastic fence posts, batteries, jewellery and stainless steel.
MobileMuster recycling manager Rose Read said with more than 19 million old and broken mobile phones lying unused in drawers and cupboards, every Australian could afford to give the planet and a family in need a special gift this Christmas.
“Now is the perfect time to put all those unused mobiles back into good use by recycling them with MobileMuster,” she said.
“This one simple gesture will help people living in poverty and the environment.”
Oxfam Australia fundraising manager Leigh Stewart said for a family living in Laos, a chicken could be an invaluable resource.
“Chickens can provide eggs for food, and the eggs can be sold at the market to provide people with a regular source of income,” he said.
Oxfam Unwrapped also equips women in Laos with the skills to raise and keep the chickens.
Recycling a mobile phone through MobileMuster is free, easy and safe.
To recycle your old mobiles, batteries, charges and accessories drop them off at your local MobileMuster collection point at one of the City of Casey customer service centres in Narre Warren, Narre Warren South or Cranbourne or the Cranbourne Transfer Station.
People can also post them for free by either downloading a MobileMuster/Oxfam Unwrapped reply-paid label from the website www.mobilemuster.com.au or by picking up a free recycling satchel from their nearest Australia Post outlet and following the packing instructions.