AT&T Customers Break World Record for Recycling Wireless Devices

DALLAS, Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- By recycling 50,942 devices during a one-week period, AT&T* customers broke the world record for collecting the most wireless devices in a week as certified by Guinness World Records. As the company applauds its customers for reaching this milestone, it challenges consumers across the nation to increase recycling rates.

"We know we have the greatest customers in the world and now we have a world record certified by Guinness World Records to prove it," said Jeff Bradley, Senior Vice President, Devices, AT&T Mobility. "At the same time, we also know that there are millions of wireless devices in people's homes that are not being recycled, so it is our goal that one day all wireless customers will trade in or recycle their wireless devices when they buy new ones."

In 2011, AT&T collected approximately three million cell phones for reuse and recycling and, thanks in part to its new trade-in program, anticipates surpassing that number in 2012. By recycling these devices, AT&T customers avoided sending approximately 25,471 pounds of waste to landfills. By the numbers, Texas recycled the most devices with 5,879 devices, followed closely by California with 4,916 devices. Among stores, the Chippenham store in Richmond, Virginia, collected the most devices at 108. Yet, there is much work to be done as millions of devices are discarded every year without being recycled. 

In honor of National Recycling Week, the company hopes that wireless users will continue to recycle their "old" devices and accessories. AT&T is committed to working with industry leaders, such as CTIA-The Wireless Association, to educate consumers and give them the tools needed to responsibly dispose their devices.

"CTIA congratulates AT&T for its world record, which highlights the importance of recycling our 'old' devices and accessories," said Jamie Hastings, Vice President of External and State Affairs for CTIA. "CTIA and its members are committed to sustainability, from an individual company's products, services and operations to helping other industries improve their business practices. Everyone plays an important role in helping to protect our environment."

AT&T is committed to engaging customers around sustainability. Recently, the company:

• Unveiled a new device trade-in recycling program that helps consumers save their old phones from landfills while also having the choice to make a donation to a charity or earn AT&T credit for future purchases at an AT&T store. This program currently runs both in-store and online.
• Launched a consumer-friendly website portal called EcoSpace. The site offers an easy one-stop shop to learn more about AT&T's sustainability initiatives, shop for AT&T eco products, find eco-rating information for assessed devices sign up for paperless billing and get recycling updates;
• Launched its Eco-Rating system, a consumer-friendly and easy-to-understand rating system that serves as a way for consumers to make more informed choices by allowing them to better understand important sustainability attributes of AT&T-branded mobile devices; and,
• Promoted free, secure and convenient paperless billing options through www.att.com/simplify.

AT&T is committed to integrating sustainable business practices across its business and is listed on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's 12^th Annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens List. AT&T was also included in the 2012 Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index. Visit www.att.com/csr to learn more about sustainability at AT&T and to view AT&T's interactive 2011 Sustainability Report.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^® and AT&T │DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.