Industry News

Benefits of Recycling Mobile Phones

There are literally millions of mobile phones in the UK, many more in fact that the total population, and a majority of these lie unused in draws and cupboards or are alternatively just chucked away once a new upgraded handset has come in to replace the old one. Each and every mobile phone is potentially hazardous to the environment if not properly disposed of, with the batteries containing toxic substances and the plastics unable to be broken down in a natural environment. As a result, the most sensible solution to the problem of a redundant old mobile phone is to recycle it, though currently the amount of phones recycled each year is only 10% of the total amount of phone which are no longer used, and as a result we need to see a change in our attitude to phones and a move towards recycling.

The Recycling Process

The great thing about recycling phones is that almost any handset can be recycled. If the phone is in working order it will be refurbished and subsequently shipped to developing countries where it is either resold or given away in order to make the lives of the people who would not normally be able to afford a mobile phone that little bit easier. Alternatively if your phone is no longer working and cannot be repaired it will be dismantled and the individual parts will be reused, so no phone is too old or seemingly too broken to recycle. Thanks to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive which is supported by the European government and parts of the phone which you send to be recycled which cannot be reused will be disposed of in a way that is not harmful to the environment, so you're assured that your phone won't be doing any damage once it's out of your hands. If you are a member of a large corporation and are concerned about the mobile phones used by your business then organisations like Earth Mobile have created programs that are both environmentally sound and financially appealing. You could have the option to allow the recylers to buy back large quantities of mobile handsets that are no longer in operation, which will not only mean that your outlay for mobile phone technology is less, but it will also allow you to come into line with the WEEE directives at the same time.

Recycling Mobile Phones in the Community

It's not just the individual or the business that can benefit and learn from the mobile phone recycling ethos, as schools and communities can also get involved, and this is an important part of changing the attitudes of future generations in relation to mobile phone consumption and recycling in general. Providing a local school with the necessary literature to help children understand the benefits of recycling mobile phones as well as having a two week campaign within a school to encourage kids to bring in and recycle their old phones can generate income for the school itself. The recycling of the mobile phone reviews and reinforces the green message of planetary protection that should be shared by all.