Councils recognised for tackling e-waste

The efforts of over 300 local councils across Australia in tackling mobile phone e-waste were recognised at the MobileMuster Local Government Awards during the National General Assembly for Local Government in Canberra.

MobileMuster is the official, not-for-profit, recycling program of the mobile phone industry. MobileMuster initiated the Local Government Awards in 2007 to recognise the outstanding efforts by local councils in promoting and collecting mobile phones, batteries and accessories for recycling.

"The role of local councils in addressing the issue of mobile phone e-waste in Australia is critical for local communities to reduce landfill and help the environment. Over the past 12 months, local councils have helped MobileMuster to collect and recycle over 3500 kg of mobile phones and accessories, including 28,000 handsets and batteries and over 1800 kg of accessories," says Rose Read, Manager Recycling, MobileMuster.

The MobileMuster Local Government Awards were presented at the National General Assembly of Local Government. The ceremony was held at the National Convention Centre, where Harinder Sidhu, First Assistant Secretary, Adaptation, Science and Communication Division, from the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, also recognised the following councils for their outstanding achievements:

• Lismore City Council has been presented with the 'Working with Schools' award for their efforts in encouraging schools to recycle mobile phones and other items;
• Indigo Council was awarded the 'National Excellence' winner for collecting the most mobiles and accessories by weight and per capita over the past 12 months;
• Nillumbik Shire Council has been named as this year’s 'Best Promoter' for its efforts in boosting community recycling awareness;
• The Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes has been named 'Top Collector Per Capita', having collected almost 130 kg of mobile phones for recycling over the last 12 months from a population of only 4500; and
• Brisbane City Council has been named 'Top Collector' having collected 162 kg of mobile phones for recycling.

Since MobileMuster’s inception in 1999, over 806 tonnes of mobile phones and accessories, including 5.82 million handsets, have been diverted from landfill. Local councils have played a significant role in the success of the program.

According to Read, entry and participation in Local Government Awards has grown each year, as more communities become conscious of the role they can play in reducing e-waste.

"In Australia, there are an estimated 19 million old mobiles stored away in cupboards and drawers that are no longer in use and could be recycled. By offering, and promoting, MobileMuster’s free e-waste recycling program, councils are helping to ensure that potentially harmful substances do not go into landfill and precious metals and plastics are recovered and re-used.

To further develop integrated e-waste collections, MobileMuster will continue to provide E-waste Collection Grants to local councils of up to $5000 each through out 2011-12.

In addition, MobileMuster will also pay participating local councils or their e-waste collection service provider $2.20 per kilogram of mobile phone components collected through their own networks.

"By providing these funds we will be helping councils promote and streamline e-waste collection services in partnership with the electronics industry, the first step towards integrated residential e-waste collections," concludes Read.