DID you know there are 32,999 old, broken or unused mobile phones stored in homes, offices and garages around the Bega Valley ready for recycling?
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That’s almost one mobile for every man, woman and child in the shire, says Rose Read, recycling manager at MobileMuster.
“Every Australian needs to take responsibility for their contribution to our ever mounting e-waste problem and this World Environment Day (June 5), is the perfect opportunity for Bega Valley residents to collectively make an impact,” Ms Read said.
“If everyone dug out just one old mobile phone and recycled it, collectively we could make a significant difference.”
In the Bega Valley Shire alone, MobileMuster has calculated the 32,999 old mobile phones and accessories could prevent mining 103 tonnes of precious metal ore.
Environmentally, that’s the equivalent to planting 87 trees.
The same number of phones could also be turned into 3665 aluminium cans, or 97 plastic fence posts, as more than 90 per cent of mobile phone components and materials recovered through the recycling process can be reused.
“If you want to lessen your shire’s contribution to Australia’s e-waste problem and help conserve our natural resources, all you have to do is drop off your old mobiles and accessories at your local mobile phone retailer, visit mobilemuster.com.au to find your nearest one.
“Alternatively, you can post them in using our free reply-paid recycling satchels available at any Australia Post outlet,” Ms Read said.
MobileMuster is the official recycling program of the mobile phone industry in Australia.
It is a not-for-profit program funded solely by Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, HTC, Huawei, ZTE, Force Technology, Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Virgin Mobile.
The aim of the program is to keep old mobiles out of landfill and ensure they are recycled safely, securely and ethically.
Nothing is resold and all data is destroyed.
MobileMuster accepts and recycles all brands and types of mobile phones, batteries, chargers and accessories.
It is a free service available to everyone.
Since the program’s inception, MobileMuster has recycled over 1000 tonnes of old mobile phone components, replacing the need to mine over 25,270 tonnes of precious metal ore.
Organise what you have: Knowing how many spare chargers, adapters and handsets you have will prevent you from making unnecessary purchases. Why buy more items than you need?
Be ruthless: Will you ever use that analogue mobile handset again? Probably not, it’s time to recycle it.
Your phone has value: Know that your old mobile has value, but not as you think! It’s simply worthless gathering dust or sitting in the back of your drawer, when 90 per cent of its parts and materials could be recycled and made into new objects.
Stop making excuses: Recycling with MobileMuster is free and easy! Go to mobilemuster.com.au to find out how to recycle or take your old mobile into an Australian Post outlet.
Educate yourself: If you really knew the environmental benefits of recycling your old unused mobile handsets, such as lessening the need to mine and significantly reducing C02 emissions, you’d be far more motivated to recycle with MobileMuster.
