The mobile phone recycling market is on the rise, boosted by growing demand in emerging parts of the world, it has been claimed.
Mike Wilson, manager of mobiles and broadband at MoneySupermarket.com, said that people know much more about getting money for their old handsets and recycling old mobile phones seems to be becoming more in vogue.
Mr Wilson said that in areas like Africa, “mobile phones are fast becoming the number one form of communication because landline access is limited in certain areas and owning a mobile is the most convenient way to communicate and do business”.
According to Mr Wilson, consumers are becoming savvier when it comes to recycling their mobile phones. He cited a 500 per cent rise year-on-year on recycled phones between January 2009 and January 2010.
The expert added that both old and faulty phones can be recycled, but he says that the handsets in the best condition will fetch the highest prices from mobile phone recycling companies.