Million phones benefit air ambulance for Starship

Old phones are collected at 2degrees, Vodafone and Spark shops. Photo / Thinkstock

The Starship mobile phone appeal has hit the million phone mark and raised more than $2.3 million for the Starship National Air Ambulance Service.

The scheme to recycle the phones and give a share of the proceeds to the Starship Foundation began in 2009.

"Since inception, the ... appeal has made a significant contribution to the $1.5 million per annum the Starship Foundation provides to the Starship National Air Ambulance Service that has saved the lives of many critically ill or injured young New Zealanders," said the foundation's chief executive, Brad Clark.

"We are proud to partner with Swapkit in this life-saving venture."

Swapkit NZ, the company which recycles the phones, says 1 million phones equates to about 150 tonnes of waste material being diverted from landfills.

Old phones are collected at 2degrees, Vodafone and Spark shops. About 20 per cent of the phones have reached the end of their life. They are disassembled and their parts recycled. Useable phones are sold overseas to be refurbished and sold at low prices in Africa and Asia.