Most Used Mobile Phones are Not Recycled
by Francine Hardaway
Published on July 11th, 2008
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According to Nokia, only three percent of people recycle their unwanted mobile phones. They just leave them around the house or office.
Three out of every four people added that they don’t even think about recycling their devices and nearly half were unaware that it is even possible to do so.
Despite the fact that people on average have owned around five phones each, very few of these are being recycled and only four percent are being thrown into landfills. The majority, 44 percent, are simply being kept at home. One quarter are handed down to friends or family, and 16 percent of people are selling their used devices.
Globally, 74 percent of consumers said they don’t think about recycling their phones, despite the fact that around the same number, 72 percent think recycling makes a difference to the environment.
Many people interviewed for the survey did not know how to go about recycling their cell phones. Two thirds said they did not know how to recycle an unwanted device and 71 percent were unaware of where drop it off.
To find a location in your area to recycle your cell phone, use Earth 911.
