Mobile phone recycling fails

The "˜Mobile Muster' scheme is seriously flawed, according to two recent reports by the mobile phone industry and a survey conducted by the Total Environment Centre.

The industry has achieved a 3% recovery rate and in the meantime, a mountain of toxic mobiles is waiting to be dumped, Total Environment Centre said.

"After seven years in the game, all the industry can claim is a pathetic 3% recycling rate, despite collecting a levy on every new phone sold. Mobile Muster is all spin and no substance," said Jeff Angel, director of the Total Environment Centre.

The TEC survey in the City of Sydney shows the scheme is failing on a number of fronts:

The scheme's coverage is poor:

• Less than 20% (25 retailers) of mobile phone retailers actually participate
• 8% of all stores (11 retailers) have a visible recycling bin.

The performance of those retailers participating in the scheme is inconsistent, and lacking in many aspects such as:

• Minimal promotional and/or educational material (29%)
• Easily visible position of recycling bin (38%).

"Voluntary measures alone are proving insufficient. The toxic time bomb is ticking," said Angel.

"It's time environment ministers imposed a regulated Extended Producer Responsibility scheme with clear targets, and make industry responsible and accountable for the waste it creates. A refundable deposit or a pre-paid return envelope with the phones would be a great incentive to get those phones out of cupboards and bins and recycled. There are successful examples from overseas."