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Vietnamese store makes Christmas tree from 2,500 mobile phones
Reported by Dean Wilson on Saturday, December 24 2011 12:30 am
A Vietnamese electronics store is getting in the festive mood with a 15-foot Christmas tree made from 2,500 old mobile phones.
A Vietnamese electronics store is getting in the festive mood with a 15-foot Christmas tree made from 2,500 old mobile phones.
Westcom Electronics, in the city of My Tho in the Tien Giang province, erected the tree not just to celebrate the holiday season, but to raise awareness about environmental issues, including the disposal of hazardous waste materials like mobile phones.
With new phones coming out on a regular basis and many people getting one for Christmas, old phones can often end up in a dump, rather than being recycled. These devices usually contain toxic heavy metals that can cause significant harm to people, wildlife, and the environment, making it increasingly important that they are disposed of in a safe manner.
It took 10 staff to build the tree over a two week period, which makes for a significant investment, but it appears to be paying off, as upwards of 800 people visit the site on a daily basis, which is both good news for the environmental campaign and the store's publicity.
The tree will be auctioned off in 2012, with the proceeds going to charity. A larger mobile phone Christmas tree is being planned for next year.
Source & Image Credit: Associated Press
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