The team at Cotswold Archaeology have dug deep to give our mobile phone recycling campaign a huge boost.

Lister Unified Communications  and Punchline-Gloucester.com  launched the campaign in aid of the Stroud-based The Nelson Trust   earlier this month.

The campaign has been helped to get off to a flying start by Cotswold Archaeology who have found almost 300 redundant phones in their Cirencester office.

Peter Ireland, head of IT at Cotswold Archaeology, said: "Without really realising, we had accumulated nearly 300 old phones in the store cupboard as old contracts came to an end, all collecting dust, so a great opportunity for us all to put them to good use. We are just pleased to do our bit to help such a worthy cause and the Nelson Trust."

Rob Lister, managing director of Stonehouse-based Lister, said: "It's fantastic to get the campaign off to such a fast start. Cotswold Archaeology have been great customers of ours for a very long time so it was wonderful that they could support us this way.

"To all you other companies who would like to support Nelson Trust, please just box up your old phones and tablets and we will come and get them."

Special mobile phone recycling bins have already been placed at Growth Hubs in Gloucester, Stroud, Cirencester, Tewkesbury and the Forest of Dean and at Hub8 at Gloucestershire College in Cheltenham.

But companies right across Gloucestershire are being encouraged to collect their old mobile phones and put them in a box for The Nelson Trust to collect.

Phone donors are advised to wipe all their private information off their devices before dropping them off, but Lister's experts can clear them, if necessary.

The old phones either get refurbished and upcycled or broken down as their parts contain tiny bits of precious metals.

The initiative is being supported by Gloucester-based BiGDUG , which has supplied the special recycling bins, and BlueSky Signs  which created all the signage for the bins.

Andy Jarrett, fundraising & events lead at The Nelson Trust, said: "We are immensely grateful to Lister Unified Communications, Punchline-Gloucester.com, and all those who will generously donate their old mobile phones to support The Nelson Trust.

"This support not only helps reduce landfill waste but also plays a vital role in raising much-needed funds to support women in crisis and individuals battling addiction and multiple complex challenges. This collaboration exemplifies the power of community and generosity."