Uni students pulling all night essay marathons may need to share their Coke with their phone …  That is, if they want to keep their mobile charged to browse the net for their much needed essay filler information. 

“What?” you ask

A conceptual mobile phone has been developed, in partnership for Nokia, powered by Coca Cola or similar sugary soda drinks.

The Chinese inventor, Daizi Zheng, says:

“Through out my research, I found that phone battery as a power source, it is expensive, consuming valuable resources on manufacturing, presenting a disposal problem and harmful to the environment.

The concept is using bio battery to replace the traditional battery to create a pollution free environment.”

Using the eco-friendly bio battery, which generates electricity from the carbohydrates and utilizes enzymes, has the potential to operate three to four times longer than a conventional battery’s single charge AND could be fully biodegradable.

Remember, we’ve seen something a little similar, charging with an energy drink and onion, but this puts the theories to practical – and possible – use.

A battery powered by soft drink? Now that’s sweeeet…

Source: Mashable – “Forget the Nexus One, We Want the Coke-Powered Phone“

Recycle your old mobile phones for trees

MobileMuster (the official recycling program of the mobile phone industry) and Landcare Australia have once again launched the “Old Phones, More Trees” campaign, where a native tree will be planted for each kilo of recycled mobile phones and accessories received.

So make sure you recycle all the old mobile phones, charges and accessories in your household before 5 June – which is World Environment Day.

How to recycle your mobile phone

1. Drop them off at your nearest collection point
2. Pick up a free recycling satchel from Australia Post or
3. Download a free reply paid mailing label from MobileMuster

Find out more information here: MobileMuster

How Schools can get involved

MobileMuster is also calling on participating schools to hand in their old mobile phones, batteries and accessories for recycling before June 5, as part of the ‘Old Phones, New Fence Posts’ Schools Challenge.

MobileMuster and Australian Composite Technology will donate 1 x plasmar post for every 5kg sent in by schools to Victorian communities affected by bushfires.

Find out more information : Old Phones, New Fence Posts

Going green with old gadgets

Out with the old, in with the new.  Can you believe Christmas – and 2008 – has now been and gone?!

Now if you’d been a good girl or boy last year and Santa bought you a new mobile phone or iPod, now would be a good time to recycle your old iPod or MP3, but how?

Think recycling (as in selling it)

If your previous iPod still works, why not sell it on OZtion or eBay to make a little cash for new iPod accessories?

Think regifting

Or – why not show someone your caring sensitive side, and treat your iPod as a hand-me-down.

Of course, if you haven’t got a little brother or sister, mum or dad or mate that you want to hand your iPod down to and you no longer have a use for your old outdated MP3 or iPod, then don’t just throw in in the rubbish bin.  It needs recycling!

“Ok, how do I recycle?”

Planet Ark to the rescue

The best option is to check out Planet Ark’s Recycling Near You website.  By searching under Product: Computers and Electronic Waste (eWaste) and your suburb and postcode, you can find out exactly how to recycle iPods, MP3s and similar electronic goods in your area.  (If necessary, contact those listed for exact details of what is and isn’t allowed).

Apple

I also tried to find out information from the Apple website…

If you live in the US, you can download free mailing address labels etc.  

However, finding the appropriate Australian iPod recycling information on the Apple website is like pulling hens teeth.  From time to time, they do hold community recycling events in Sydney where you can recycle your old items; and do list a Victorian retailer that recycles Macs – but that hardly helps the remainder of the country now does it?!

They also hint at giving a 10% discount on a new iPod if you buy from (and recycle at) an Apple retail store, but also note in the Recycling FAQs that you can’t recycle at an Apple retail store. So, presumably only allowed when purchasing a new iPod can you recycle your old one.  I guess 10% discount is a fair incentive for that.  But is the 10% discount even valid in Australia? NO, of course not. Just the old US.

Calling the Apple store and Apple care was also completely fruitless.  After being shuffled around with an obviously very “difficult enquiry” – and after 5 minutes of politely trying to explain I was just trying to find out if they do, or how to recycle old iPods (no fool – not restore, not repair, not service, recycle it) I gave up!

Doesn’t sound as easy to be iPod green… does it?  And yet Apple tries to talk up just how green they are?!  hmm

Apple resellers

Some of the Apple resellers will trade in your old iPod when purchasing a new one – and some of the iPod service centres will recycle.  Contact your local resellers and service centres to find out the relevant information. They may or may not be able to assist.

“What it boils down to for recycling your iPod”

If you’re not keen to regift, resell etc, please go back to reading the Planet Ark section above. It seems the only easy answer for Australasia.

Other recycling

Mobile Phones

Find out how to recycle your mobile phone.

General

With the festive season just passed, be sure to also check out Planet Ark’s tips for festive recycling and Recycling Near You websites for all other recycling.

Help the World Think Green…

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Going green with old gadgets

Can you believe Christmas – and 2008 – has now been and gone?!

If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to be more environmentally conscious, then let me help with some tips…

Now if you’d been a good girl or boy last year and Santa bought you a new mobile phone or iPod, now is as good a time as any to recycle your old digital gadgets.

“Ok, how?” if hear you ask

Mobile Phones

Mobile phones are in fact just about the easiest item to recycle.  Thanks to the efforts of MobileMuster there are hundreds of drop-off locations around Australia for your preloved mobile phones.

Perhaps the best way is when you’re next at your local Post Office, just pick up a free postage-paid recycling satchel, follow the instructions on the satchel and pop it in the post.  If you’re already heading to the post office, then it’s not even out of your way – and you’re doing your bit for the environment.  Easy!

Otherwise, you can head to the MobileMuster website for a drop-off point near you – there are kajillions of mobile phone retailers, banks and other places where you can recycle your mobile.

If you’re feeling like making a bigger contribution, you can even organise your own muster.

iPods

We also have a little information on recycling your iPod.

Other recycling

With the festive season just passed, be sure to also check out Planet Ark’s tips for festive recycling and Recycling Near You websites.

Be Green & Happy!

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