A cellular phone recycling campaign has earned the Arlington Parks and Recreation Department an environmental award from the Tarrant County Corporate Recycling Council. The award recognizes the department’s Throw Your Dog a Phone Recycling Project, which concluded in July.

The recycling project was introduced in January, and coordinated by the Arlington Parks and Recreation Department and Ecophones, a national leader in cellular phone recycling and fundraising. The goal of the project was to reduce the large volume of electronic waste entering the landfill while raising funds for Arlington’s first off-leash dog park.

"We recycled 419 phones and raised $779.40 through the Ecophone project," said Cory Styron, Parks and Recreation Maintenance Supervisor. "We helped to reduce the volume of electronic waste entering the landfill and the proceeds helped us to fund the off-leash dog park."

The dog park will be located adjacent to the proposed Animal Services Center on Green Oaks Boulevard in southeast Arlington.

The award qualifies the Arlington Parks and Recreation Department for a State of Texas recycling award to be announced later this year.

"This is a true community award that demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship and civic partnerships," Styron said.