MOBILE phones and old printer cartridges have been recycled into money for charity raising about £100,000 this year.
At Co-op supermarkets, such as the one in St John's, Worcester, and Travelcare travel agents across the county people can pick up a freepost bag to send their unwanted phones and used inkjet printer cartridges to Oxfam where they can be converted into cash.
On average, each working phone that is recycled by Oxfam has a value of £5 while used inkjet cartridges have a value of £1.
The Co-op's Kirstie Haw-kins said: "As Santa will be delivering sacks of new mobile phones and printers this Christmas, we wanted to make sure we got the recycling message across to everyone so they can make a new year's resolution to help Oxfam by donating their old ones. It could not be easier."
With the £100,000 raised so far Oxfam could plant 15 mango plantations, 50,000 trees, train 200 farmers and 100 teachers, build and equip five classrooms and provide safe clean water for 50,000 people.
Recycling mobile phones also has the benefit of reducing the risk to the environment caused by dangerous chemicals in the phones.
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