Students can recycle their cardboard, their bottles and their cell phones this week at the Telecommunication Systems Management Association's cell phone drive at Baker Center.

The association is holding the drive to reduce electronic waste, said Tracy DiMarino, a junior journalism major and a publicity and recruiting assistant for the School of Information and Telecom Systems.

Also known as e-waste, electronic waste includes any device that has a printed circuit board like cell phones, MP3 players, televisions, computers and radios, according to informinc.com.

These electronics often contain toxic chemicals such as lead and mercury, which can harm the environment if they are disposed of in landfills, DiMarino said.

“The event is important so that people can make sure cell phones are properly recycled, not just thrown away in the trash,” said Krystal LaFontaine, a senior Information and Telecommunication Systems major.

The event will raise money for Kids on Campus, a local organization that gives Athens children educational and recreational opportunities, LaFontaine said.

The cell phones from the drive will be sent to Eco-cell, a fundraising company that gives groups a way to dispose of cell phones and raise money.

For each cell phone collected, Eco-cell will give the organization money back, said Eric Ronay, president of Eco-cell.

Still-useable phones will be sent to hospitals, where they will be given to patients for emergency 911 calls. Phones that are broken will be sent to Umicore, a metal refining and recycling center, DiMarino said.

150 million cell phones are replaced every year, DiMarino said.

Although the drive will be focusing mostly on cell phones, other electronic devices, like PDAs and phone chargers, will also be accepted.

“If you have nothing to do with (the cell phones), why not recycle them? If it’s just sitting in your drawer, then it’s an easy way to help the environment and a local charity in Athens. It’s a win-win for everyone,” DiMarino said.