The UK has traditionally had a poor recycling record. The growing consumption of electronic goods and frequent upgrading to newer and better products is now producing a growing mountain of e-waste. Nowhere is this more acute than mobile phones. It is estimated that approaching 1 million mobiles are upgraded every month and the runup to Christmas invariably brings a rash of new releases. This year the Blackberry Bold 9780 and possibly the Nokia N9 could boost sales of new handsets, with a resultant increase in mobile phones being discarded.
The trouble is many consumers don’t do the sensible thing and sell or donate their phones to mobile phone recyclers who will dispose of their old phones responsibly. Indeed, there are around 85 million old mobile phones lying around in people’s homes. Consumer Focus has reported that nearly 70% of mobile phone users possess one or more redundant handsets. 11% own up to having 5 or more phones.
In view of these startling statistics, it is no wonder that there has been a surge of mobile phone recycling companies all vying with one another online to get consumers to sell them their mobiles. There has also been a growth in the number of mobile phone recycling price comparison sites all purporting to get the best deal for those wanting to sell their phones.