The popularity of mobile phone recycling continues to grow

In the last fifteen years there has been a huge surge in the use of mobile phones across the world. Many Mobile service providers offer upgrades to their customers, either for a small fee or as part of the terms of their contracts. This has resulted in many users in the developed world having their old mobile phones left in a drawer or cupboard gathering dust whilst others simply get thrown out and end up in landfill sites. The environmental impact of these discarded mobile phones could, in the long term, be quite significant.

There are many toxic chemicals and elements used in the manufacture of a mobile phone including Arsenic, Beryllium, Cadmium, Mercury and Lead. With the sheer volume of mobile phones that are being discarded on an annual basis the amounts of these chemicals leeching into the environment from landfill sites is thought to be considerable. These chemicals can be reclaimed safely from mobile phones and re-used if they are handled properly or the phone itself can be re-used if it is still in working order.

In recent years various companies have appeared offering mobile phone recycling or re-use services. These companies offer a small cash sum for your old mobile phone, which varies depending on the model and whether the phone can be re-used or re-cycled. This prevents the phone from ending up in a landfill site and offers the consumer an incentive to recycle their phone. It is certainly something worth considering the next time you are offered an upgrade.