Recycled phones aid battered women in Saskatchewan

Donated cellphonesarehelping to protect battered women in Saskatchewan, thanks to a program called "Phones for a Fresh Start".

So long as the phones are in working order, they can be a valuable lifeline in an emergency, people involved in the program explained to CBC News.

"You can call 911 from your SaskTel cellphone even if you don't have cell phone minutes," Crystal Geisbrecht, who works with women in crisis, explained.

More than4,000 women seek help at women's centres in Saskatchewan every year.

Giesbrechtrecalled one case where a woman, who had moved out of a Reginashelter and into an apartment,was attacked by her estranged husband.

"[The woman] was able to dial 911 and the police were able to to trace the call and find her," Giesbrecht said. "Police stopped the assault and she was safe."

The cellphone donation programis supported by the provincial Crown corporation SaskTel.

Since 2009,the companyhas collected 41,041 used cellphones at drop-off bins throughout the province.

Usable devices are provided to woman in any one of 19 shelters with the help of the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS).

Phones that don't work are sent to an Ontario recyclingcompany thatsalvages plastics and precious metals from the devices.

A phone and its battery contain manyprecious metals such as gold, silver, platinum and copper.

About 96 per cent of a cellphonehas some value andproceeds from the recycling, about $1.20 per device, areused tofurnish pre-paidphonecards to women.

Many phones tossed in trash

According to the phoneindustry,Canadians replace their cellphones every 18to 24 months. However,only 12 percent of cellphones are recycled. While someold phones areresold, given away or sitignoredin a drawer,many are simply tossed in the trash.

"We are seeing a lot more people recycling, since we started the 'Phones for a Fresh Start' program,"SaskTel's Michelle Englot said. "Most people don't realize these materials are reusable or recyclable."

Family support workers say the donated phones providesecurity and independence to abused women.

"Most often women come to us with nothing," Andrea Moss, who works at Sofia House in Regina, said. "They've left their homes with no furniture[and only the] clothes on their back."

In many cases the women have children with them.

A cellphone and phone card is a precious resource to women who have no money or credit.

Moss alsorecalled a situation where adonated cellphone helped a woman escape a dangerous situation.

"She was with her baby on the street and [her ex-partner] came up and grabbed her and shook her. She was able to get away from him and called 911 on her cellphone," Moss said.

The phones are also importantforother needsthe women have,including staying in touch with lawyers, child protection services, and searching for a job or new apartment as well asregisteringchildren in school.

In some cases, the women already have a phone, but having an additional phone number allows them torestrict contact with their ex-partners and reduce stalking or harassment.

"We've had one lady who used the cellphone just for contact with her ex-partner," Moss said. "She had to communicate with him regarding custody [but] she didn't want to give him her house phone number."