The following is an open letter to the managers of Digicel Jamaica, Claro, LIME (C&W) Jamaica and Flow.

Dear Sirs:

The St Andrew High School (STAHS) for girls, along with the Grade 12 Leadership Development Programme's Environmental Group, is very concerned about the negative effects of carelessly disposed cellular phone batteries on human health and Jamaica's environment.

Cellphones in today's society usually last 18 months. After which, they are discarded care-lessly into landfills. There are a number of harmful chemicals present in cellular phone batteries. Some of these are mercury, lead, brominated, compounds and arsenic. These very same chemicals that are symbolic to our evolution as humans, ironically, slowly destroy the only home we all share. Our natural water systems that flow from mountains which help create an idyllic backdrop to our landscape are slowly becoming harmful to aquatic life in rivers and ponds.

Join worldwide campaign

In light of the above, we invite you to join the worldwide campaign in saving our precious planet Earth, our only home, by implementing cellular phone recycle bins at your different service centres. These permanent non-retractable bins can be placed in safe, convenient and suitable environs.

By responding favourably to our request, we will express our endless gratitude to you for taking a bold step towards environmental change in Jamaica.

I am, etc.,

JODI- ANN MORRIS

for STAHS Earth Patriots;

MARIE CLARKE

(Staff Adviser);

SHARON REID

Principal