IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2006-- With California state law now prohibiting residents from throwing away cell phones and common batteries in the regular trash, Verizon Wireless announced today that it is accepting not only used cell phones, cell phone batteries and accessories, but also all dead rechargeable batteries, for recycling at the company's Communications Stores year-round.

Through the Verizon Wireless HopeLine(R) program, used cell phones, along with their batteries and accessories, regardless of service provider or manufacturer, are recycled or refurbished and resold. Verizon Wireless uses the proceeds to award grants of cash, cell phones and free prepaid airtime to non-profit human services and law enforcement agencies to aid survivors of domestic violence. In this way, the HopeLine program gives customers an environmentally safe option for disposing of no-longer-used wireless phones while also providing a way to make a difference in the lives of domestic violence victims. In addition, Verizon Wireless retail stores are participating in the RBRC Charge Up to Recycle! program for collecting spent rechargeable batteries. The RBRC Charge Up to Recycle! program is designed to educate the public about the need to recycle rechargeable batteries and to provide collection containers at retail stores where replacement batteries are sold.

During 2005, more than 850,000 phones were donated to HopeLine at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, sporting events, concerts and corporate phone drives across the country, bringing the total number of phones collected to more than 2.5 million since the HopeLine collection program was launched nationally in 2001. Moreover, through HopeLine and the RBRC Charge Up to Recycle! program, Verizon Wireless has collected more than 220,000 pounds of batteries nationwide over the past two years.

Last year, in Southern California alone, the company awarded more than $260,000 in HopeLine grants to domestic violence agencies, and donated more than 660 HopeLine wireless phones with one year of prepaid airtime to domestic violence agencies to aid survivors.

For more information about HopeLine, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 million voice and data customers. With headquarters in Bedminster, N.J., Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE:VOD)(LSE:VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the
Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

Copyright Business Wire 2006

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