Enviromental impact

"The cadmium from one mobile phone battery is enough to pollute 600,000 litres of water."
    —   Julian Trick, Author - A mobile is not just for Christmas

Recycling can make a huge difference to our environment, and if everybody did their bit, the world would be a cleaner place! With increased concern about global warming, it has never been more important to recycle for a greener, more sustainable future.

Working with businesses, charities, channel partners, schools, governments and the general public, Mobile 4 Charity and its global partners we have managed to recycle millions of old mobile phones and distribute them for reuse in developing markets such as Africa and Asia where landlines are limited and mobile devices are an essential tool for business and everyday life.

According to a recent study by Nokia, only 3% of mobile phone users recycle their old phones, and if each of the three billion people globally owning mobiles brought back just one unused device we could save 240,000 tonnes of raw materials and reduce greenhouse gases to the same effect as taking 4 million cars off the road.

Also taking into account that the running of a mobile phone only accounts for around 5% of the phones environmental impact during its lifetime, this would mean that 95% of the phones environmental impact is simply in it being produced. This is why mobile phone recycling, refurbishing and re-birthing is the best environmental option.

The bottom line on the figures is that to produce a new phone it takes around 35 kg of carbon and to recycle including shipping costs around 0.48 kg per phone.

That’s why Mobile 4 Charity is committed to working with businesses in Australia and New Zealand to help them help our environment and build strong CSR policies around there electronic waste management.

Recycling your old mobile matters!