MOBILE MUSTER PROGRAM

SAVING BANDICOOTS

For immediate release – Wednesday, 14 October 2009

East Gippsland Shire is encouraging local schools to register to be part of the National Schools Recycling Challenge being run by Mobile Muster.

Mobile Muster is a phone disposal program for which the Shire has collection points at a number of its Business Centres.

The program has set a target of 500 schools nationally to register for the challenge and to collect enough phones to donate $10,000 to Landcare Australia to restore the habitats of bandicoots in various places across Australia.

Waste education officer, Helen Kelly said that Mobile Muster had joined with Landcare Australia to encourage schools to recycle mobile phones to raise funds for the restoration of crucial habitat for a number of critically endangered species of bandicoot”. 

“The program aims to build on the success of the previous three Mobile Muster schools campaigns and increase the amount of weight collected on a National level,” she said.

“To date, a total of 5,025 kgs have been collected thanks to the efforts of staff, students and school communities across Australia,” she said.

“The Shire has recently contacted a number of local primary and secondary schools to encourage them to register and become involved in this new incentive.”  

Local residents are encouraged to get involved in the program by contacting their local school and check if they have a collection point set up.  The challenge will conclude at the end of National Recycling Week, 9 - 15 November 2009. 

Residents can still make a difference by disposing of old mobile phones in the drop off boxes that are located at the Bairnsdale and Orbost Business Centres, Lakes Entrance Library and Business Centre and the Mallacoota Outreach Centre.

Further Information – Helen Kelly