A new study(1) into Australian mobile phone purchasing and recycling habits shows that the demand for the latest mobile phone technology is not slowing down with over a third (37%) of Queensland (QLD) residents to buy, or think of buying a new mobile during summer sales.
This mobile buy-up is giving Redland City residents the perfect opportunity to contribute to recycling the estimated 22 million unused mobile phones stored in homes across Australia.
MobileMuster, the official recycling scheme of the mobile telecommunications industry, estimates that if the 22 million old mobiles no longer being used were recycled, it would divert nearly 120 tonnes of plastic from landfill and have the environmental benefit of planting over 86,000 trees or taking 4,000 cars off the road.
The state of Queensland has become quite the place for out-dated e-waste hoarders, with nearly two thirds (69%) of residents having one or more old mobile phones lying around at home gathering dust.
Redland City Council and not-for-profit recycling program MobileMuster want all Redland City residents to recycle a record number of old mobiles following the Christmas and summer sale mobile buy-up.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Redlanders were champion recyclers when it came to recycling with nearly 24 percent of household waste diverted from landfill each year.
“But Redlands can still do better with on average 100 tonnes of contamination and general waste being incorrectly disposed in the household recycling bins each month.
“Redland City Council also offers a number of exciting free recycling programs at waste transfer stations including household recyclables, cardboard and paper, polystyrene, engine oil, gas bottles, scrap metal and car batteries. Additionally, all those unwanted reusable household items in good condition can be donated to Recycle World
“Mobile phone recycling can drop off our radar as it requires a little more effort to take unused products to a dedicated collection point,” Cr Williams said.
“Nearly a third (32%) of Queensland residents said they were holding onto their old mobile ‘just in case they need it,’ said Rose Read, Recycling Manager for MobileMuser.
“As demand for more sophisticated mobile technology increases, old mobiles kept in drawers for a rainy day will become increasingly less likely to be used,” commented Read.
“With many Redland residents having the New Year resolution to de-clutter and have less ‘stuff’ now is the perfect time to go into your drawers and cupboards, dig out these old phones and recycle them,” added Read.
The study also showed that three out of ten (35%) of all Queensland residents did not know or were not sure if mobiles could be re-used and made into other items.
Recycled mobile materials can be simply and easily recovered, and made into new products rather than being buried in the ground where they could potentially harm the environment.
By reusing the recovered materials we are reducing our demand on the earth’s precious natural resources, saving energy and avoiding future greenhouse gas emissions.
Recycling your old mobile through Redland City Council with MobileMuster is easy and free – either drop it off at your nearest collection point at Redland IndigiScapes Centre or pick up a reply-paid, recycling satchel at any Australia Post store and post it to MobileMuster.
For more information on why you should recycle your old mobile go to www.mobilemuster.com.au.
About MobileMuster: MobileMuster is the official recycling program of the mobile phone industry in Australia. It was established voluntarily by the mobile phone industry because of its desire to maintain high environmental standards and its commitment to product stewardship.
The program aims to:
• take back mobile phones, batteries and accessories at the end of their useful life,
• recover as much of the materials in these phones for reuse, and
• prevent mobile phones, batteries and accessories ending up in landfill.
All mobiles are recycled to the highest environmental standards, none are refurbished or sold and MobileMuster is a not for profit program.
(1) Survey conducted by Pure Profile with a representative sample of 1,009 Australians as commissioned by MobileMuster
