TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla., Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The first of nine electronics recycling rallies to be held at Verizon facilities around the country this year kicked off on Thursday (Jan. 24) at the company's Temple Terrace facility on E. Telecom Parkway. Similar events held by Verizon in 2012 collected more than 531,000 pounds of e-waste -- about the equivalent weight of 14 charter buses -- that was recycled and kept out of landfills.  

Recycling rallies, which enable employees and members of the surrounding community to conveniently recycle household electronics items ranging from laptops to toasters to monitors, are part of Verizon's broad commitment to help protect and preserve the environment. Verizon's recycling rallies operate with a zero-landfill goal, meaning the materials will be reused or recycled so that they do not end up in a landfill.  

"E-Waste can be tricky, so we're making it easy and convenient for our employees and people in many of the communities we serve to dispose of electronics in an environmentally friendly manner," said James Gowen, Verizon's chief sustainability officer. "By opening up our recycling rallies to the public, Verizon was able to offset the equivalent of 828 tons of CO2 last year alone. It's a valuable service, but it also helps raise awareness of environmental practices that can be easy to adopt but impactful."

The Verizon locations hosting recycling rallies later this year include Albuquerque, N.M.; Wilmington, N.C.; Charleston, S.C.; and Ashburn, Va.

Recycling Is an Integral Part of How Verizon Does Business

Verizon's comprehensive sustainability strategy encompasses the company's entire operation, from energy consumption to product packaging, to providing energy solutions to businesses and consumers. Recycling is an integral part of the company's sustainability efforts.

Since 2001, Verizon has collected 9 million no-longer-used wireless phones through the HopeLine phone recycling and reuse program, keeping the devices out of landfills and turning them into support for domestic violence survivors.

Late last year, Verizon Wireless launched its Trade-In Program, which allows customers from any wireless carrier to get value from no-longer-used wireless devices and help the environment at the same time.  Customers who participate in the program can submit their devices for appraisal online at www.trade-in.vzw.com.  In exchange, customers receive a Verizon Wireless gift card by mail. 

Also since 2008, Verizon has recycled more than 100,000 tons of telecommunications equipment and more than 80,000 tons of paper and cardboard. The company is a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Waste Wise Hall of Fame.

To learn more about Verizon's commitment to the environment, visit http://responsibility.verizon.com/home/results/environment/. 

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE,Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 98 million retail connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with nearly $116 billion in 2012 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 183,400.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.  

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SOURCE Verizon