Nextel Posts Earth Day Milestone
Tuesday April 22, 1:45 pm ET
One Million Phone Mark Passed as Nextel Commemorates Second Anniversary of Phone Recycling Program - Company Cites Environmental and Economic Success
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 22, 2003-- Nextel Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:NXTL - News) today marked Earth Day by announcing that it has recycled more than one million phones as a result of a two-year old program designed to re-use and recycle old wireless phones.
The program, launched in mid-2001, encourages customers to turn in their older wireless telephones when purchasing a new phone. To date, more than one million phones have been recycled under the program preventing them from being sent to city and county landfills.
"Nextel takes seriously its commitment to being an environmentally responsible corporate citizen," said Christopher Brown, Nextel vice president of customer operations. "And the word is finally getting out to consumers that wireless phones should be included in their recycling plans."
How the Program Works
Nextel retail stores collect surplus and inactive wireless phones, regardless of make or model, usually when customers are purchasing their new phone. Phones previously sold by Nextel are sent to a company facility in Texas, where they are sorted into several categories:
Handsets that can be repaired or refurbished;
Handsets that are beyond repair; and,
Handsets that are of minimal use because of age or technology.
The recycling process includes stripping the phones of contents that may be harmful to the environment, such as caustic metals used in handset components. Potentially harmful components and substances are extracted and disposed of in accordance with applicable federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations.
The remaining components are then recycled, again, adhering to current environmental recycling standards.
"By re-cycling the old phones Nextel Service & Repair is realizing the full potential of this equipment," reports Gary Moore, Nextel national service program manager, "and that makes sense for us and the environment."
Nextel has also conducted innovative "Donate a Phone" programs encouraging consumers to donate old, unused wireless phones with the proceeds being directed towards community based organizations. In the Fall of 2002, Nextel conducted Donate a Phone drives with five professional football teams, and donated new phones and airtime to anti-domestic violence organizations in those cities.
In 2003, Nextel concluded a program with the National Hockey League in which phones were donated in conjunction with Nextel promotional nights, and $25,000 in proceeds was donated to the NHL's Hockey Fights Cancer charity.
Nextel plans on continuing its Donate a Phone program with non-profit organizations as part of its continuing efforts to raise awareness of the need to recycle wireless phones.
About Nextel Communications
Nextel Communications, a Fortune 300 company based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of fully-integrated wireless voice and data communications services including Direct Connect®- the long-range digital walkie-talkie feature; all-digital cellular service; Nextel Online® wireless data solutions; and two-way messaging.
Nextel and Nextel Partners, Inc. have built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network covering 197 of the top 200 U.S. markets. Nextel and Nextel Partners' wireless voice and packet data communications services are available in areas of the U.S. where approximately 240 million people live or work.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Nextel Communications, Reston
Media:
Chris Doherty, 703/433-4656
or
Nextel Communications
Investors:
Paul Blalock, 703/433-4300
Tuesday April 22, 1:45 pm ET
One Million Phone Mark Passed as Nextel Commemorates Second Anniversary of Phone Recycling Program - Company Cites Environmental and Economic Success
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 22, 2003-- Nextel Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:NXTL - News) today marked Earth Day by announcing that it has recycled more than one million phones as a result of a two-year old program designed to re-use and recycle old wireless phones.
The program, launched in mid-2001, encourages customers to turn in their older wireless telephones when purchasing a new phone. To date, more than one million phones have been recycled under the program preventing them from being sent to city and county landfills.
"Nextel takes seriously its commitment to being an environmentally responsible corporate citizen," said Christopher Brown, Nextel vice president of customer operations. "And the word is finally getting out to consumers that wireless phones should be included in their recycling plans."
How the Program Works
Nextel retail stores collect surplus and inactive wireless phones, regardless of make or model, usually when customers are purchasing their new phone. Phones previously sold by Nextel are sent to a company facility in Texas, where they are sorted into several categories:
Handsets that can be repaired or refurbished;
Handsets that are beyond repair; and,
Handsets that are of minimal use because of age or technology.
The recycling process includes stripping the phones of contents that may be harmful to the environment, such as caustic metals used in handset components. Potentially harmful components and substances are extracted and disposed of in accordance with applicable federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations.
The remaining components are then recycled, again, adhering to current environmental recycling standards.
"By re-cycling the old phones Nextel Service & Repair is realizing the full potential of this equipment," reports Gary Moore, Nextel national service program manager, "and that makes sense for us and the environment."
Nextel has also conducted innovative "Donate a Phone" programs encouraging consumers to donate old, unused wireless phones with the proceeds being directed towards community based organizations. In the Fall of 2002, Nextel conducted Donate a Phone drives with five professional football teams, and donated new phones and airtime to anti-domestic violence organizations in those cities.
In 2003, Nextel concluded a program with the National Hockey League in which phones were donated in conjunction with Nextel promotional nights, and $25,000 in proceeds was donated to the NHL's Hockey Fights Cancer charity.
Nextel plans on continuing its Donate a Phone program with non-profit organizations as part of its continuing efforts to raise awareness of the need to recycle wireless phones.
About Nextel Communications
Nextel Communications, a Fortune 300 company based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of fully-integrated wireless voice and data communications services including Direct Connect®- the long-range digital walkie-talkie feature; all-digital cellular service; Nextel Online® wireless data solutions; and two-way messaging.
Nextel and Nextel Partners, Inc. have built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network covering 197 of the top 200 U.S. markets. Nextel and Nextel Partners' wireless voice and packet data communications services are available in areas of the U.S. where approximately 240 million people live or work.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Nextel Communications, Reston
Media:
Chris Doherty, 703/433-4656
or
Nextel Communications
Investors:
Paul Blalock, 703/433-4300
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