It is hard to know what to do with a mobile phone after you have upgraded to a new model. Mobile phones are no longer a luxury – they’re a part of our everyday lives. Many of us choose to upgrade our phone every 18-24 months, leading to unwanted handsets being disposing of.
This has started to take its toll on our environment. When mobiles aren’t disposed of correctly they end up in landfill, and can leak toxic chemicals out into the environment. Hazardous chemicals in mobile phones can stay in the environment for a long time. These chemicals can include lead, nickel, mercury, lithium, zinc and copper – bad for the environment, and also harmful to us! The hard case of mobiles is generally made out of plastic, and it won’t be biodegradable.
Before considering recycling your phone, one option is to pass the mobile on to someone you know, or to sell it. Choosing one of these options before opting for recycling will extend the life of your mobile, and will mean fewer resources and materials will be consumed.
A lot of Australians also choose to hold on to their old mobile just in case, and it never hurts to have a spare. But if you don’t think you need it anymore – recycle it!
If you decide that your phone is beyond repair or that nobody will want it, there are a number of organisations that will take it to be recycled, such as the Aussie Recycling Plan or Mobile Muster. It doesn’t matter what condition your phone is in; it can be broken, damaged or dead. The point is to reduce harmful chemicals floating around our environment, and to keep mobiles and their accessories out of landfill. 90 percent of materials used in mobile phones can be recycled to make new products! When recycled, phones can be reused or melted down for a variety of purposes.
Don’t forget to include your mobile phone accessories such as battery, charger and sim, as the accessories can be recycled too. Before you send in your phone, make sure you remove the sim card and battery, and erase any data you have on the phone.
There are a number of charities and collection points where you can drop off your old phone, and many organisations will provide you with a pre-paid satchel to receive free postage. By choosing to recycle your phone, you are helping to reduce C02 emissions, save our resources, reduce waste and keep our environment clean from harmful chemicals.