New phone recycling system set up

By Editorial Team (Monday, 30th July 2007)

A new scheme to recycle and reuse unwanted mobile phone handsets in the UK has been announced.

Run by Shields Environmental, the programme has been dubbed Fonebak and will enjoy the support of the country's five main network providers - O2, Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile and Virgin Mobile - as well as Dixons, Currys, the Link and PC World.

The organisers hope to prevent 1,500 tonnes of waste being thrown into landfill every year by implementing the scheme, which will encourage consumers to hand in their old handsets instead of putting them in the bin, in some cases offering discounts on the cost of a new model.

Metals such as gold, platinum, silver and copper will be extracted during the recycling process and put back into circulation, while nickel taken from batteries can be used to make irons and saucepans. Plastics from phones can also be recycled.

There are currently 45 million mobile phones in use in Britain, with the average user replacing their handset every 18 months, Scenta.co.uk reports.

Last week, researchers from Essex University dismissed claims that phone masts can cause symptoms of "radiosensitive" illness in some people.

« Back to Mobile Phone News

Related Articles

• Ireland 'has the greatest mobile phone usage'
  - Friday, 21st November 2008
• Three's INQ1 'could be great for young users'
  - Friday, 21st November 2008
• Google adds voice search to iPhone, a few days late
  - Thursday, 20th November 2008

Featured Mobile Phone Offers