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Think Food/Phones for Food is a national recycling program, launched in 2001. The mission of Think Food/Phones for Food is to recycle laser printer cartridges, inkjet cartridges and cell phones to raise funds for local food banks, helping to alleviate hunger and divert waste from landfill sites. In Regina, all funds raised are used to purchase milk, formula and baby food.
Operation
The program is free and easy. The Regina & District Food Bank, along with ThINK FOOD registers participating organizations and provides donation boxes and posters. There are counter-top type boxes for cell phones and inkjet cartridges and larger floor boxes for items such as laser cartridges. When you register, you will receive a “ThINK FOOD” or “Phones for Food” recycling box with a Purolator form attached. Once the box is full, Purolator is called and they deliver the box, free of charge, directly to ThINK FOOD. ThINK FOOD will forward a new box directly back to you to continue with the recycling. Or, if collecting toner cartridges, contact the Regina & District Food Bank at 790-6441 for pick-up and forwarding to ThINK FOOD. ThINK FOOD negotiates the best possible price for the cartridges and phones and returns all of the profits directly to the Food Bank in the area of the donor. We receive a quarterly cheque and report from ThINK FOOD indicating which organizations returned cartridges and phones.
Benefits
One recycled cartridge or cell phone can purchase up to 2.5 litres of milk. ThINK FOOD/Phones for Food will not only provide thousands of dollars to Saskatchewan Food Banks for the purchase of milk, formula and baby food, but it saves our landfills from the toxic waste of the thousands of cartridges and batteries discarded each year. In addition, it offers businesses an easy alternative for disposal of its cartridges, saving both time and money.
National Sponsors
Purolator is a national sponsor of the program, providing pick-up and delivery of the cartridges and phones to ThINK FOOD in Ontario, free of charge. PetroCanada is also a national sponsor, providing a public drop-off for cartridges at its stations. And, Rogers Communications provides funding for the Phones for Food Program.
Provincial Sponsors and Partners
In Regina, we already have 56 participating organizations, including the City of Regina, SaskPower, SaskTel, FCC, and Conexus Credit Union, in partnership with Ecole Wilfred Walker School. SaskEnergy is a provincial sponsor, collecting inkjet cartridges and cell phones in its satellite offices across the Province. Grand & Toy and the University of Regina have partnered with the Food Bank to donate their used laser cartridges, as well as the Student’s Union, Faculty of Social Work and Biology Departments. In addition, we have a variety of churches and small businesses which regularly donate cartridges to the program.
In Regina, cell phones & inkjet cartridges can be dropped off at: any City of Regina Leisure Centre; City Hall; the Guides office at 1530 Broadway Avenue; SaskEnergy; Conexus Credit Union; as well as many schools and businesses.
How can you get involved?
Simply call Laurie Sampson at the Regina & District Food Bank at 790-6441 for further information.
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