MobileMuster Marches Towards A Greener Environment
Are you holding on to one of the estimated 15.5 million unused mobile phones stashed away at home or work?
With the ever growing number of mobile phone handsets being shipped in and purchased by Australians, a large number of old mobile phones are lying around unused where potentially they may end up in the rubbish.
To ensure these valuable resources don’t go to waste lying around at home or worse still end up in the rubbish the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association runs a free take back recycling program, MobileMuster, the official recycling program of the mobile phone industry.
The recycling program was initiated in 1999 by the Australian mobile phone industry to recycle old mobile phones, batteries and accessories, as well as raise community awareness about the importance of recycling mobile phones.
Since the program was established, 466 tonnes of handsets, batteries and accessories have been collected. This includes 2.77 million batteries and handsets.
Rose Read, MobileMuster Recycling Manager, says there is a two-fold benefit to recycling old mobile phones, batteries and accessories.
“More than 90% of mobile phone materials can be recycled and reused to make new products such as jewellery, stainless steel products and plastic fence posts. So by simply recycling old phones, people are taking an important step in helping to protect and conserve our environment.
“In addition, mobile phones are not biodegradable and contain small amounts of potentially hazardous substances such as cadmium in the older style NiCad batteries which, if not managed properly, can harm the environment,” said Ms Read.
According to research recently conducted by MobileMuster, three out of four people have at least one unused mobile phone at home, and nearly four out of 10 people have at least two or more unused mobile phones at home that could be recycled.
There are over 3,000 collection points nationwide including Nokia Care Centres, participating mobile phone retail outlets including Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, 3 Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Allphones, Crazy Johns, Fone Zone and Harvey Norman stores as well as Cartridge World, selected ANZ and Sydney Credit Union branches and numerous local councils across the nation. To find your nearest MobileMuster drop-off point go to www.mobilemuster.com.au or call 1300 730 070.
MobileMuster is the only whole of industry led electronic product recycling program in the world and is funded by handset and accessory manufacturers Nokia, Motorola, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Sharp, NEC, Panasonic, I-Mate, Force Technology and network carriers Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, 3 Mobile, Virgin Mobile and AAPT.
added Ms Read.
There are over 3,000 collection points nationwide including Nokia Care Centres, participating mobile phone retail outlets including Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, 3 Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Allphones, Crazy Johns, Fone Zone and Harvey Norman stores as well as Cartridge World, selected ANZ and Sydney Credit Union branches and numerous local councils across the nation. To find your nearest MobileMuster drop-off point go to www.mobilemuster.com.au or call 1300 730 070.
MobileMuster is the only whole of industry led electronic product recycling program in the world and is funded by handset and accessory manufacturers Nokia, Motorola, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Sharp, NEC, Panasonic, I-Mate, Force Technology and network carriers Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, 3 Mobile, Virgin Mobile and AAPT.
MobileMuster aims to raise community participation and lift recycling levels to 1.5 million phones and batteries a year by the end of 2008. To achieve this goal education and awareness plays a key role in the success of mobile phone recycling.
"We encourage people to dig out their old mobile phones, batteries, chargers and accessories and hand them in at their nearest MobileMuster collection point" added Ms Read.
There are over 3,000 collection points nationwide including Nokia Care Centres, participating mobile phone retail outlets including Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, 3 Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Allphones, Crazy Johns, Fone Zone and Harvey Norman stores as well as Cartridge World, selected ANZ and Sydney Credit Union branches and numerous local councils across the nation. To find your nearest MobileMuster drop-off point go to www.mobilemuster.com.au or call 1300 730 070.
MobileMuster is the only whole of industry led electronic product recycling program in the world and is funded by handset and accessory manufacturers Nokia, Motorola, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Sharp, NEC, Panasonic, I-Mate, Force Technology and network carriers Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, 3 Mobile, Virgin Mobile and AAPT.
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