Toronto Zoo dialed into fate of lowland gorillas with recycling drive

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Looking to unload some of your unwanted e-waste and help a good cause? You’ll go ape for the Toronto Zoo’s latest initiative.

An extension of the zoo’s PhoneApes program, which collects and recycles discarded cellphones, the zoo is collecting e-waste and gently used shoes Saturday for the Toronto Zoo Recycling Drive.

Ahnaf Ahmed, an intern with the zoo’s Climate Action Learning and Leadership program, is spearheading the recycling drive along with colleague Kayajny Shanmugam.

“There’s a wonderful program called PhoneApes, started in 2006,” Ahmed said. “We’ve managed to accumulate up to 30,000 cellphones from 2006 to 2022, so we’ve really made a difference in trying to get these devices repurposed to make an impact on the livelihood of the lowland gorillas.”

Critically endangered lowland gorillas have had their habitats in the Congo mined for a metallic ore called coltan.

“It’s used to make certain components within the phone,” said Ahmed. By recycling coltan from existing devices, it can lessen the impact of extraction from gorilla habitats.

Ahmed’s special relationship with the Toronto Zoo’s gorillas were the inspiration behind the Recycling Drive.

“If you come to the zoo, Charles (the patriarch of the group) and his troop, they’re very fascinating — very human,” said Ahmed.

The zoo is also collecting gently used shoes for recycling and repurposing.

“A lot of shoes end up in landfills,” said Ahmed, and recycling will “help to alleviate some of the greenhouse gasses released through production and transportation of these items.” Shoes in wearable condition will be donated to people who need them, while other materials can be repurposed and reused.

Ahmed also said along with helping a good cause, there’s an added incentive for donors: “If you donate, we’re collecting names and email addresses and we’ll do a randomized draw for 2 free tickets for admission to the Toronto Zoo.” There will also be interactive activities, all located within the zoo’s Drop Off Loop off Zoo Rd., so it’s not required to enter the zoo to donate. This area is also accessible by TTC.

“When we came up for the idea with the drive, we wanted to make sure everyone has access and everyone can come,” said Ahmed.

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If you can’t make it on Saturday, but would still like to donate used phones, a box is located at the gorilla exhibit in the African Rainforest pavilion, as well as in other locations around the city, such as City Hall and each borough’s civic centre. They can also be sent by mail.

For more info, visit www.torontozoo.com/tz/phoneapes.

Some of the items being collected:

— Phones;

— Computers and accessories, such as monitors, mice, speakers, keyboards;

— TVs, VCRs, DVD and BluRay players;

— Stereos, radios, turntables, cassette players, speakers;

— Cameras, calculators, GPS units, smart watches;

— Printers, scanners, fax machines, photocopiers.