Environmental Issues

With an estimate that there are over 90 million used mobile phones lying around people's homes in the UK alone, and 15 million more phones replaced each year, we are building up a mountain of old phones which could still work perfectly, and are a potential hazard if put in the rubbish bin.

So what is it that's such a problem about mobile phones? Many other consumer goods are regularly replaced and left to gather dust, so why not these?

If a phone ends up in a landfill site, which is the obvious scenario for most discarded goods, the batteries could leach toxic metals such as lithium, cadmium, mercury and lead. Also, the plastic parts of the phone will not break down and rot, using up space which could be potentially occupied by something that will degrade.

This is shameful when many parts of the phone could actually be recycled for spares or used for some other purpose, including the manufacture of toys, alarms and traffic cones from the plastic fascia.

Also, the issue is not just about waste control in this country. By recycling and selling on phones in good condition to the developing world, largely Asia and Latin America, we can give others the chance to purchase products that would not otherwise be reachable by them. Consequently this helps to bridge the technological divide between countries.

So go on, register now.It's free to set up, could make money for you or for a charity you wish to support, and is beneficial to both other people and the environment. There's nothing to lose!