IFAT ENTSORGA collects old cell phones for charity IFAT ENTSORGA collects old cell phones for charity

In German households alone, it is estimated that there are around 60 million old cell phones lying unused in cupboards and drawers. As well as plastics, these devices also contain a range of metals that are gradually becoming ever scarcer. At IFAT ENTSORGA, which takes place from May 7 to 11, 2012, in Munich, exhibitors and visitors will have the chance to deposit their old cell phones in a collection box at the East or West Entrance. This initiative is being organized in cooperation with REMONDIS, who will be recycling the cell phones and paying Messe München the financial equivalent of the raw materials recovered. The proceeds will then be donated to a charity.

The World’s Leading Trade Fair for Water, Sewage, Waste and Raw Materials Management is making it very easy this year to dispose of old cell phones in an environmentally responsible way and at the same time to support a good cause: Anyone taking part in the fair can simply deposit their old phone, or phones (as many as they want), together with their business card, in the collection boxes. The names then go forward to take part in a prize draw to win one of two iPhones being given out each day to the lucky winners. The competition runs on all days of the fair.

A special exhibition called “Treasure Trove Cell Phone” (Booth B1.324) gives a detailed breakdown of which raw materials and rare metals are contained in a cell phone. On over 100 m2, this display – organized by Messe München in cooperation with the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Public Health – examines the cell phone, the raw materials contained within it, and the processes involved in recovering these resources.

Further information: www.ifat.de

IFAT ENTSORGA

IFAT ENTSORGA 2012, the World’s Leading Trade Fair for Water, Sewage, Waste and Raw Materials Management, takes place from 7 to 11 May 2012 at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre. The last time the world’s most important trade fair for innovations, new developments and services in the fields of water, sewage, waste and raw materials management was held, it attracted 2,730 exhibitors from 49 countries and 109,589 visitors from 186 countries. The statistics for the fair are independently audited by Ernst & Young AG on behalf of the Gesellschaft zur Freiwilligen Kontrolle von Messe- und Ausstellungszahlen (FKM), a society for the voluntary monitoring of fair and exhibition statistics.

Messe München International

Messe München International is one of the world´s leading trade show companies. In Munich alone it organizes around 40 trade shows for capital and consumer goods, and key high tech industries. Each year more than 30,000 exhibitors and around two million visitors take part in the events held in the New Munich Trade Fair Center, the ICM – International Congress Center Munich, and in the MOC Event and Order Center. The leading international trade fairs of Messe München International are all FKM-certified, i.e. exhibitor and visitor numbers and the figures for exhibition space are collected in line with agreed standards and independently audited on behalf of the FKM (Gesellschaft zur Freiwilligen Kontrolle von Messe- und Ausstellungszahlen), a society for the voluntary monitoring of fair and exhibition statistics. In addition, Messe München International organizes trade shows in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. With six subsidiaries in Europe and Asia and more than 60 foreign representatives actively serving over 90 countries, Messe München International has a worldwide business network. The Group also takes a pioneering role as regards sustainability: It is the first trade show company to be awarded energy efficiency certification from the technical inspection authorities TÜV SÜD.