Bring your old cell phones and small electronics to Como and help protect gorillas in the wild!
Join Como Park Zoo & Conservatory for a weekend filled with gorilla-themed fun as we celebrate World Gorilla Day, welcome new gorillas Kamba and Nora to the Como community, and kick off our year-long Gorillas on the Line electronics recycling campaign.
You can make a big difference with a simple action: Gather up your old cell phones and other eligible electronics and bring them to Como to be recycled.
Answer the Call for Gorillas
What does an old cell phone tucked away in a drawer have to do with gorillas?
Many phones and other electronics contain minerals mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo, home to critically endangered gorillas. This mining is destroyingthe forests gorillas depend on for survival.
In partnership with AZA Gorilla SAFE, Eco-Cell and Gorillas on the Line, Como is launching an 11-month recycling campaign running through August 31, 2027.
Recycling your old electronics helps reduce demand for newly mined materials, keeps electronic waste out of landfills and supports gorilla conservation efforts in Africa. For every cell phone collected, Eco-Cell will be making a direct donation to AZA Gorilla Safe for gorilla conservation.
What Can You Bring?
Como will accept:
- Cell phones of any kind or age
- iPads, iPods and tablets
- Smart watches (any brand)
- Adapters and chargers
- MP3 players
- Handheld gaming systems
- Earbuds and headphones
Please note that Como cannot accept laptops, monitors or other large electronics through this program. Ramsey County Environmental Center will be on-site with information on how to recycle these items.
Look through your drawers, check your closets, and ask family and friends if they have any unused devices. Then bring them to Como during Gorillas on the Line Conservation Weekend!
Weekend Highlights
Along with making a difference for gorillas in the wild, visitors can enjoy activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.
Collect them all! Pick up baseball card-sized trading cards featuring Como’s gorillas as you explore the event. Visit each activity station to complete your collection.
Activities include:
- Rainforest selfie station
- Gorilla nose-print matching game
- Gorilla body-language bingo
- Conservation pledge station
- Gorilla natural history station
- Cell phone and small-electronics recycling
- The Fall Flower Show in the Sunken Garden
Daily Schedule
- 11 a.m. — Zookeeper Talk: Gorillas!
- 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. — Blaze Sparky Show
- 1 p.m. — Gardener Talk: Bananas!
- 1:30 p.m. — Gorilla Program
Saturday Only
Noon — Community Lunch & Learn with Gorilla Zookeeper Michelle Warren
Take a deeper dive into gorilla care and conservation during this special program designed for an adult audience.
Sunday Only
10 a.m.–1 p.m. — Twin Cities Road Crew
Kids and adults are invited to dance, dance, dance along with the Twin Cities Road Crew!
Noon – Community Lunch & Learn with Roopali Phadke, PhD, Professor of Environmental Studies at Macalester College
“Mining Futures: Prospecting Critical Metals in the U.S. and Beyond”. This special program is designed for an adult audience.
Bring your old electronics, enjoy a day of gorilla-themed fun and help protect gorillas and their forest homes. It’s an easy way to make a real difference—one phone at a time.
