4 Million Mobiles "on Hold" For No Reason"
Results released by the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) show that public awareness of mobile phone recycling has risen with collections passing the two million handset and battery mark. Consumer awareness increased (46 to 54%), while fewer people threw their mobiles out with the rubbish, down from 9% last year to 5% in 2006.
The number of unwanted batteries and handsets handed in was up 16% in 2005/06, to a record number of more than 390,000 units. The total number collected since the program started in late 1998 now stands at 2.13 million.
However, AMTA claims collections could be trebled if only people recycled the estimated 4 million mobile phones at home that don't work. Current estimates suggest that there are more than 16 million unused mobiles stashed away in Australian households of which 4 million no longer work.
With two in every three people still having at least one mobile phone stashed away at home, the biggest challenge facing the program is encouraging people to hand them in for recycling.
"While there is no problem keeping your old working mobile tucked away at home as a back up, its important that you don't let those mobiles that no longer work end up in the bin during your annual spring clean," said Rose Read, Manager of AMTA's national recycling program, MobileMuster.
"With 90% of materials in mobiles recoverable during recycling, unwanted phones and batteries can be made into new products such as jewellery, stainless steel products and fence posts," Ms Read added.
Victoria recorded the highest collection figure, accounting for 37.5% of the pre-loved mobiles handed in.
"Our goal is to raise community and business participation, and in the next 12 months increase the number of mobile phones and batteries collected to 580,000" says Ms Read.
The overall weight of units dropped to 50 tonne as batteries and handsets become lighter and as phones become smaller and more sophisticated with modern technology.
MobileMuster collection points are expected to rise to 2000 in the coming year through increased support and involvement from local councils, businesses, government agencies and schools.
Australians upgrade or exchange their mobile phones every 18 to 24 months. There are approximately 16 million unused mobile phones stashed away at home or in the office, and some 8.1 million handsets were shipped into Australia in 2005.
368 tonnes of handsets, batteries and accessories collected since program started, this includes 1.51 million batteries and 590,000 handsets. Mobile Muster is the official recycling program of the mobile phone industry, and is funded by 16 leading mobile phone manufacturers and network carriers."
Posted to the site on 27th September 2006
