Mobile Phones
With video recording, picture messaging and internet access all being features introduced into mobile phone packages, there is almost a constant stream of new phones coming onto the market.
There are now more than 75 million redundant mobile phones in the UK, with the average user replacing their phone every two years. Thats enough phones to stretch from London to Lapland more than 3 times!
If disposed of incorrectly mobile phones can be environmentally harmful, largely due to their metal content.
Our recycling / disposal advice
The easiest way to ensure mobile phone handsets are not harmful to the environment is to make use of a re-use scheme.
If your phone is in good condition, why not donate it to your local furniture re-use group? When you donate an item, you will be helping a project which supports somebody who is living on benefits or low wages, or needs emergency support.You can find out about your nearest re-use organisations here, and see if you can organise for your furniture to be collected from your home.
Re-using your household items will save a significant amount of energy compared to disposal, and also less energy than recycling, as even reprocessing materials will require energy.
Some charities that collect and re-use/recycle unwanted phones and refurbish them, mainly for use in developing countries where there is often insufficent or no landline telecommunication.
Those that are too old, or unsuitable for re-use, are sent to specialist recyclers where some materials can be recovered and put back into productive use.
18 of Hertfordshire's 19 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) have recycling containers for the collection for mobile phones and all associated accessories such as chargers, hands-free kits and batteries. However, please remove the sim-card before depositing the phone in the container. This can then be disposed of with your rubbish.
Use the search below to find where to recycle / dispose of Mobile Phones.