Call for nominations for the 2013 MobileMuster Local Government Awards

MobileMuster, the Australian mobile phone industry’s official product stewardship program, is calling on local councils who have helped promote and collect mobile phones for recycling over the last year to nominate for the 2013 MobileMuster Local Government Awards.

This year there are five MobileMuster Local Government Awards: Best Promoter, Working with Schools Award, Top Collector Award Overall, Top Collector Per Capita and National Excellence.

The awards, established in 2007, acknowledge the great support received from local governments in ensuring the industry keeps its promise - that mobile phone products don’t end up in landfill but instead are recycled in a safe, secure and ethical way.

The winning councils will be announced during the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) National General Assembly at the National Convention Centre in Canberra from 16-19 June 2013.

Rose Read, Manager of MobileMuster through the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), encourages councils to nominate for the Best Promoter, Working with Schools Award and National Excellence awards.

“Councils play a major role in educating residents about waste and collecting mobile phones for recycling,” she said.

“In the 12 months to December 2012, local councils diverted over 2600 kg of mobile phones, batteries, chargers and accessories from landfill - an increase of 10% on 2012.

“This included over 24,000 handsets and batteries as well as more than 1300 kg in accessories, which helped avoid over 21 tonnes of greenhouse emissions.

“However, with most homes still having at least two old mobiles sitting in drawers either broken or unused, there is a lot of potential e-waste that could end up in landfills if not recycled.”

2012 winners included Darebin City Council (Vic) - National Excellence Award; City of Whitehorse (Vic) - Best Promoter; District Council of Kimba (SA) - Top Collector Per Capita; Brisbane City Council (Qld) - Top Collector Overall; Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (WA) - Working with Schools.

“I encourage all councils to nominate for the MobileMuster Local Government Awards,” said Read.

Nominations close on Friday 7 June 2013. Visit mobilemuster.com.au or call 1300 730 070.