--- title: "CTIA-The Wireless Association Dials Into Green Movement" id: "14321" type: "post" slug: "ctia-the-wireless-association-dials-into-green-movement" published_at: "2012-11-07T21:47:20+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-15T19:07:31+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/11/07/ctia-the-wireless-association-dials-into-green-movement/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/11/07/ctia-the-wireless-association-dials-into-green-movement.md" excerpt: "CTIA-The Wireless Association created a new Green Working Group that will focus on wireless device recycling and more sustainable packaging." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Environment and Sustainability" - "recycling" - "work environment" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" - "For-Profit CEO / President / Owner / Partner" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » CTIA-The Wireless Association Dials Into Green Movement Ever wonder what to do with that shoebox full of old cellphones and accessories you have stuffed in a closet? If you’ve ever thought about recycling the devices, you might get a little help from CTIA-The Wireless Association, which [announced (opens in a new tab)](http://www.ctia.org/media/press/body.cfm/prid/2221) a new [Green Working Group (opens in a new tab)](http://www.gowirelessgogreen.org/what-we-do/Green-Working-Group.aspx) (GWG) this week to promote its sustainability efforts. “It’s vital that wireless users are actively engaged by returning their old devices and accessories,” CTIA [said in a statement (opens in a new tab)](http://www.ctia.org/media/press/body.cfm/prid/2221) . “By working together, we can protect and preserve our environment for future generations.” To boost cellphone recycling, the GWG has established a three-part plan, which includes developing and educating consumers on take-back programs for phones and accessories; making use of third-party recyclers; and developing a universal measuring system for collection rates while setting a goal to increase the collection of devices and accessories by 20 percent by 2015. “It may seem like a small step,” said Jamie Hastings, vice president of external and state affairs at CTIA, “but [it is] one that makes a significant impact as the EPA estimates that recycling 1 million cellphones would power more than 185 U.S. households with electricity for a year.” CTIA’s new working group also identified several steps to help reduce the amount of environmental waste from wireless device and accessory packaging: - **Eliminating plastic inserts** and trays from postpaid wireless device packaging by the end of 2013 - **Labeling all U.S. postpaid wireless packaging** with internationally recognized symbols to facilitate recycling by December 31, 2013 - **Using less than 10 percent** volatile organic compounds in postpaid packaging elements, including labels, by the end of 2013 - **Using water-based adhesives** or self-sealing tab-locking boxes by June 2014 - **Printing all postpaid packaging material,** including user guides, with non-petroleum-based inks by the end of 2014 Apple, AT&T, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon are just some of the members of the working group, which is a component of the association’s larger [“Go Wireless Go Green” (opens in a new tab)](http://www.gowirelessgogreen.org/default.aspx) initiative. (Photo by stockbroker / 123RF) [Katie Bascuas](https://associationsnow.com/author/katie-bascuas/) Katie Bascuas is a former associate editor at Associations Now in Washington, DC. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/katie-bascuas/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#Environment and Sustainability](https://associationsnow.com/tag/environment-and-sustainability/) [#recycling](https://associationsnow.com/tag/recycling/) [#work environment](https://associationsnow.com/tag/work-environment/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [PodcastSustainable Events: How Associations and DMOs Are Leading the ChargeMarch 31, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/03/31/sustainable-events-how-associations-and-dmos-are-leading-the-charge/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2012%2F11%2F07%2Fctia-the-wireless-association-dials-into-green-movement%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !