Mustering mobiles
June 20, 2007
Section: News
USE your old mobile to help save the environment. Join the MobileMuster.
Electronic waste is clogging up our landfill in the Illawarra.
As technology changes, we all want the latest in technology, resulting in millions of unused electronic devices, in particular mobile phones.
It is estimated 15.5 million unused phones are stockpiled in cupboards or drawers in homes across the country.
Shellharbour Council's Waste Manager Nick Feneley said technology is changing so rapidly that many consumers are forced to update their mobile because older ones are no longer serviceable.
Mr Feneley said electronic devices such as mobile phones have placed a major burden on our environment.
"Unfortunately, many people simply throw out their old mobile phones which contributes to landfill issues, so encouraging more people to recycle their unwanted mobiles is taking some of the pressure off while reaffirming the recycling message," he said.
Households, businesses and schools across the region are being encouraged to participate in the "Old Phones, New Trees" campaign, where unwanted mobile phones are handed into Council during the month of June.
MobileMuster, the official recycling program of the mobile phone industry, along with Landcare Australia, will see one native tree planted for every mobile phone handed in for recycling this month.
Mobile phones collected in this program are dismantled and arranged in various parts, then sent to specific recyclers who further shred, sort and process these components to recover plastics and metals such as nickel, calcium, silver and even gold.
For the past 12 months, Shellharbour City Council has been actively involved in the MobileMuster program ("Old Phones, New Trees" is an extension of that program) and has seen over 150 mobile phones and accessories been recycled.
Get involved and take your mobile into Council's Administration Building, Level 1 Lamerton House Shellharbour or hand it in to Warilla Library or most mobile phone retailers are also MobileMuster collection points.