Sprint Nextel Supports Earth Day with Reminder to Recycle Wireless Phones; Sprint Retail Stores Collect Old Wireless Phones to Protect the Environment and Raise Money for Education

"There is no better time than Spring Cleaning to donate your oldwireless phone to Sprint Project Connect. It's a simple way to clearclutter that will go a long way toward protecting our environment forthe future," said Ralph Reid, Sprint Nextel vice president, corporatesocial responsibility. "Sprint Nextel has already kept millions ofphones out of the waste stream and we remain dedicated to collectingmany more."

Innovative Recycling Methods

Since 2001, Sprint Nextel has collected nearly seven millionwireless devices that otherwise would have ended up in landfills.Rather than allow these old phones to go to waste, the company isusing innovative methods to recycle them. One of the ways SprintNextel helps repurpose wireless components such as batteries, plasticand metal is to send them for reuse in household or commercialproducts such as replacement automotive dashboards or bumpers andrechargeable battery packs, for example.

"Handset recycling is an important part of Sprint Nextel'senvironmental commitment. As a leader for socially responsiblesolutions to cell phone waste, we are constantly seeking creative waysto re-use every piece of our wireless devices and reduce environmentalimpact," said Gary Moore, Sprint Nextel manager, service and repair."As we continue to enhance our recycling program, we look forward toexploring partnerships that will help improve our process and identifynew and better ways to recycle end-of-life wireless phones."

Sprint Project Connect Recycling Program

In addition to recycling, Sprint Nextel also refurbishes wirelessphones. Handsets are inspected, reconditioned and resold with 100percent of the net proceeds going to Sprint Project Connect to benefitK-12 education programs dedicated to increasing student achievement,family involvement and educator development. Since the program'sinception, Sprint Project Connect has raised more than $3 million forcharitable programs.

"Donating your wireless phone to Sprint Project Connect isn't justbeneficial for the environment. By contributing, you're actuallyturning 'one person's trash into another person's treasure.'" Reidsaid. "We're pleased to be able to say that all of the dollarsgenerated from Sprint Project Connect go directly to supportexcellence in education and help ensure a brighter future for ourchildren."

Sprint Project Connect was one of the first nationwide wirelessrecycling programs. Sprint Project Connect collection boxes can befound at most Sprint and Nextel stores across the country. Handset andaccessory donations are also accepted through the mail. Free,postage-paid shipping labels are available online. More informationabout Sprint Project Connect can be found by visitingwww.sprint.com/community.

About Sprint Project Connect

Sprint Project Connect is a nationwide wireless phone donation andrecycling program that raises funds for K-12 education programs whileproviding an environmentally friendly way to dispose of used wirelessphones. Phones are recycled or refurbished and resold with proceedsbenefiting K-12 education programs through the Sprint Foundation. Formore information visit www.sprint.com/community.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of communicationsservices bringing mobility to consumer, business and governmentcustomers. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing,engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including tworobust wireless networks offering industry leading mobile dataservices; instant national and international walkie-talkiecapabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internetbackbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.