Samsung Mobile and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Encourage Americans to "Plug-In To eCycling" and Participate in National Cell Phone Recycling Week

Samsung Mobile is the ONLY Handset Distributor to Participate in the EPA's Recycling Initiative to Increase Awareness about Recycling Cell Phones

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), a leading mobile phone distributor in the U.S., and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are collaborating to encourage people to "ecycle" their cell phones during the Plug-In To eCycling National Cell Phone Recycling Week, April 6 through April 12. Samsung Mobile is the only handset distributor participating in the EPA's Plug-In To eCycling National Cell Phone Recycling Week.

The Plug-In To eCycling National Cell Phone Recycling Week is a joint effort with Samsung Mobile, service providers and retailers to increase the awareness and recycling rates for cell phones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). According to the Federal Electronics Challenge (FEC) Electronics Environmental Benefits Calculator, more than 100 million cell phones are discarded annually. If we recycled them, we would save enough energy to power more than 18,500 homes a year, and prevent the release of greenhouse gases equivalent to annual emissions from more than 28,000 vehicles. The FEC is a partnership program that encourages federal facilities and agencies to purchase greener electronic products, reduce impacts of electronic products during use and manage obsolete electronics in an environmentally safe way.

To help raise awareness about the EPA's Plug-In To eCycling National Cell Phone Recycling Week, Samsung Mobile will distribute 35,000 mobile phone recycling envelopes to NASCAR fans who attend the 2009 Samsung 500, April 3 through April 5. From April 6 through April 12, Samsung Mobile will distribute and provide a collection site for mobile phone recycling bags at its experiential product showcase, The Samsung Experience, located on the third floor of the Time Warner Center in New York City. Samsung Mobile will also participate in Earth Day events with DFW International Airport to continue to drive awareness about the Plug-In To eCycling program.

"So many people have cell phones they don't use anymore that can easily be recycled," said Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer for Samsung Mobile. "We encourage New Yorkers to pick up a mobile phone recycling envelope at the Samsung Experience. It's easy to do, free and good for the planet."

Samsung Mobile's Take-Back Program recycles end-of-life mobile devices for free by processing them to be reused as resources for manufacturers. The Samsung Mobile Take-Back Program is leading the effort to create a recycle-based society by distributing 100 percent recyclable mobile recycling envelopes made out of high density polyethylene. These recycling bags provide consumers access to pre-paid postage labels to mail in phones to be recycled, and make great contributions toward preserving the environment.

The Samsung Mobile Take-Back Program is a part of Samsung Recycling Direct℠, Samsung Electronics America, Inc.'s commitment to convenient and responsible recycling. Samsung Recycling Direct allows consumers to recycle Samsung-branded consumer electronics for no fee, and non-Samsung-branded electronics for a nominal fee paid directly to Samsung's recycling partners throughout all 50 states in the U.S. Samsung Recycling Direct accepts all Samsung-branded consumer electronics sold in the United States ranging from televisions, DVD and VHS players, audio equipment and home theater systems, to cameras, camcorders, computers and cell phones.

Since June 2008, Samsung's Customer Care Center, has recycled 635 tons of cardboard, which has saved more than 10,700 trees, 38,000 pounds of air particles, 4.4 million gallons of water, 2.6 million kilowatts of electricity and 1905 cubic yards of landfill space. Samsung receives a certificate of destruction for every cell phone it recycles.

To find out more information on the Samsung Recycling Direct and Samsung Mobile Take-Back program please visit http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpages.samsung.com%2Fus%2Frecyclingdirect%2F&esheet=5927960&lan=en_US&anchor=http%3A%2F%2Fpages.samsung.com%2Fus%2Frecyclingdirect%2F&index=1. For additional information on National Cell Phone Recycling Week, and its partners visit http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epa.gov%2Fcellphones&esheet=5927960&lan=en_US&anchor=www.epa.gov%2Fcellphones&index=2.

About Samsung Telecommunications America

Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsungwireless.com&esheet=5927960&lan=en_US&anchor=www.samsungwireless.com&index=3.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2007 consolidated sales of US$105 billion. Employing approximately 150,000 people in 134 offices in 62 countries, the company consists of two main business units: Digital Media & Communications and Device Solution. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsung.com&esheet=5927960&lan=en_US&anchor=www.samsung.com&index=4.

About Plug-In To eCycling

Plug-In To eCycling with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a partnership with 25 electronic manufacturers, retailers, and service providers to create, provide, and promote opportunities to donate or recycle ("eCycle") used consumer electronics. Initiated in 2003, the Plug-In To eCycling program facilitates partnerships to increase recycling opportunities and empowers consumers with information about how to donate or safely recycle their old electronics, including televisions, computers, and cell phones. For additional information, please visit: http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epa.gov%2Fplugin&esheet=5927960&lan=en_US&anchor=www.epa.gov%2Fplugin&index=5.

EPA's Plug-In To eCycling National Cell Phone Recycling Week April 6 through April 12, 2009

Plug-In To eCycling's National Cell Phone Recycling Week 2009 is a joint effort with leading cell phone manufacturers, service providers and retailers to increase the awareness and recycling rates for cell phones. Plug-In To eCycling encourages Americans nationwide to donate or recycle their unwanted cell phones during the week of April 6 through April 12, 2009. For additional information and to find cell phone recycling locations near you, please visit: http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epa.gov%2Fcellphones&esheet=5927960&lan=en_US&anchor=www.epa.gov%2Fcellphones&index=6.

About Samsung Experience

The Samsung Experience is a remarkable 10,000-square-foot interactive emporium of virtual reality experiences and technology. This permanent venue is located on the third floor of The Shops at Columbus Circle in the Time Warner Center. Samsung has created a range of experiences, each of which ties the Samsung brand and technology to the experiences of everyday life. The site features hundreds of Samsung products in unique technology demonstrations such as a virtual world in a 360 degree interactive simulation, a map of the city that can be manipulated with hand gestures, and a digital fashion collection created by one of New York's hottest designers. For more information about Samsung Experience, visit http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsung.com%2Fexperience&esheet=5927960&lan=en_US&anchor=www.samsung.com%2Fexperience&index=7.

Contacts

MWW Group for Samsung Mobile
Makenzie Blythe, 214-414-3331
mblythe@mww.com