Mobile Phone Recycling

Every hour in the UK 1712 people upgrade their mobile phone. Only 30% of the redundant phones will be eventually recycled with the rest abandonned in drawers or sent to landfills. In the UK alone it is estimated there is in excess of 80m outdated phones gathering dust with an annual increase of 10m.

Waste from mobile phones has become a major environmental issue, in particular some of the many substances used to manufacture mobiles contain the deadliest toxins known to man, these include Arsenic, Mercury, Cadmium, Palladium, Lead and Beryllium. It therefore is essential that mobile phones are recycles to ensure disposal of any harmful toxins in a controlled manner.

Phones that are able to be refurbished are often refurbished, to an as new standard, extending the product life, the phones are then exported to developing countries providing affordable first time communication equipment and improving local communities and economies.

Phones that can be broken down for parts that can be reused, materials that can be extracted and recycled into the production of new phones. Remaining unsalvageable parts are sent for certified safe disposal to meet WEEE legislation that governs the cycle of electrical waste into the environment.

In the UK there are many schemes and companies offering mobile phone recycling, here are a few;

Tesco, has for several years offered mobile phone recycling, for exchanging your old functioning mobile phone you can claim 500 clubcard points or alternatively donate £5 to charity. Also available is ink jet cartridge recycling.

Oxfam recycle phones with all profits going towards their charitible work. In the UK alone their scheme has ensured 22 500 kilos of electronic waste has been diverted from landfill sites.

In the US the following organisations offer cellular phone recycling;

Collective Good offer a recycling service, a donation is made to a chosen charity for each phone and the owner of the phone is able to claim a tax credit.

Wireless Recycling offer a database of 40 000 locations where you can recycle your phone and help charities.

If you would like to recycle your mobile phone but can not find a solution in your country or area you can send them to, eWaste Recycling, 1 Conway Street, Lisburn, BT27 4AD, United Kingdom. For each working phone received a minimum donation of £5 will be given to Christian Aid. Christian Aid work in over 50 of the world's poorest countries regardless of race or faith.