Australia tackles e-waste with mobile phone recycling day

Australia has been identified as the fifth largest producer of electronic waste (e-waste) globally, with a substantial number of unused mobile phones contributing to the issue.

In response, Planet Ark and MobileMuster are collaborating to promote International Mobile Phone Recycling Day on 24 January, encouraging Australians to recycle their unused devices.

There are currently 24 million unused mobile phones in Australian homes, of which 13 million are broken and need urgent action towards recycling to prevent them ending up in landfill.

Many of the minerals used in the production of smartphones are sourced from regions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, where mining activities pose significant threats to the environment and native wildlife, including the critically endangered Grauer's Gorilla. Recycling mobile phones can reduce the demand for these new materials, thereby helping to protect valuable ecosystems.

Rebecca Gilling, Chief Executive Officer of Planet Ark, commented, "Australia's e-waste problem is a significant environmental concern."

"By encouraging Australians to recycle their old phones this January 24, we can reduce demand for raw material extraction and help preserve ecosystems around the world."

Louise Hyland, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association, emphasised the importance of the initiative, saying, "With Australians upgrading their phones every 3 years, the need for recycling is more pressing than ever. We are asking people not to let old phones become waste and end up in landfill, but to recycle them at our MobileMuster collection points."

MobileMuster provides a cost-free recycling service for mobile phones, boasting thousands of drop-off points across the nation to facilitate convenient recycling options for Australians.

The programme is managed by the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association and funded by major handset manufacturers and network carriers. It aims to ensure high environmental standards in recycling mobile phones.

MobileMuster has been operational for over 25 years and has made significant contributions towards reducing landfill waste.

In the past financial year, it collected 109 tonnes of mobile phone components, a move that equated to reducing global warming by 328 tonnes of CO2 emissions, conserving 461 tonnes of mineral resources, or the equivalent of planting approximately 5,000 trees.