Cell phones and other small electronic devices contain a mineral called coltan, which is mined in Africa, home to critically endangered gorillas. By recycling our electronics, we decrease the demand for coltan and help save gorillas in the wild by raising money to directly support gorilla conservation initiatives through the Gorilla SAFE programs. You can join the movement year-round by dropping off any of the following devices (in any condition) at the North Carolina Zoo:
- Cell Phones or Smart Phones
- iPads or Tablets
- E-readers
- GPS Units
- iPods or MP3 Players
- Digital Cameras
- Apple watches or Smartwatches
- Adapters or Chargers
- Handheld Gaming Systems
- Headphones or Earphones
The Gorillas on the Line initiative was launched in 2019 to encourage zoos to serve as centers of conservation action for gorillas, in particular. The Gorillas on the Line campaign increases public awareness of threats to gorillas and empowers zoos to engage local audiences in taking action for gorilla conservation.
In the first year alone, 260,000 people and 56 groups, including 20 zoos, came together to collect and recycle more than 12,000 phones and electronic devices. With ongoing support, this number continues to grow each year!
According to Gorilla SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction):
2019: 12,486 devices collected and $6,055 raised
2020: 6,194 devices collected and over $2,000 raised
2021: 10,116 devices collected and over $2,400 raised
2022: 13,885 devices collected and $10,442 raised
2023: 35,174 devices collected and $28,337 raised
2024: 18,582 devices collected and $12,468 raised
2025: 30,042 devices collected and $26,192 raised
TOTAL: 126,479 devices collected and $87,894 raised for gorilla conservation
... Now, it's your turn to answer the call!
All proceeds from donated devices go directly to the Gorilla SAFE program, which currently supports the work of Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Wildlife Conservation Society, and GRACE (Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center) in conservation projects protecting Grauer's and cross river gorillas.
Important Tip: Before recycling your devices, we suggest backing up and saving any data you might want to keep (contacts, photos, etc.), resetting the device to factory settings, and removing any cases, attachments, and/or screen protectors.
Items NOT accepted at our Zoo include the following large electronic devices:
- Desktop Computers or Laptops
- Monitors or Smart Screens
- Televisions or Smart TVs
- Game Consoles
- Calculators
While these electronics also contain coltan, they are more difficult to process and ship. Instead, we highly recommend recycling them at your local electronics store. Call ahead to find out more!