The MTF Recommends Recycling or Reuse of Mobile Phones and other portable communication devices

The Mobile Phone
The mobile phone is an innovation of our age allowing us to easily stay in touch with our loved ones, friends and business. Many of us use our phones for all kinds of important calls; it is interesting to note that the largest percentage of calls made to emergency services are now made from mobile phones, saving countless lives by providing faster response times to emergency incidents.

Mobile phones to most people are an important and necessary part of their lives. Many of us have seen the mobile phone change from a brick-like device to the feather-light and stylish phones we have today incorporating many other functions such as MP3 player, Camera, Organizer, Radio, email, Internet and TV access – all these can save on unnecessary additional electronic devices.

However, because of these constantly changing designs tempting us to change our phones more frequently - many of us have more than one phone, a business mobile and personal mobile - some of us have kept our old models at the back of a drawer or on the top shelf of a cupboard out of sight, these phones can go to good use in so many ways.

Why should I bother?
We should never throw old mobile phones into the bin because they will end up in our now overstretched land fill sites costing us more in both landfill tax and council tax.

From July 2007 all electronic products , including mobile phones, will come under the new Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment WEEE regulations which requires manufacturer/importers/resellers to collect unwanted products for disposal.

What should I do?
All new mobile phones as of August 2005 have a crossed out wheelie bin symbol and instructions on how best to dispose of your mobile phone in an environmentally friendly way. One way is to create cash for your preferred charity providing much needed equipment and essentials. Your old mobile phone could be providing people in third world countries with affordable communication devices; this will aid business development and promote industrial growth.
Some refurbished mobiles are used by charities so that workers can stay in touch out in the field, this improves their ability to help more people and get help where it’s need faster, so let us tell you how to put your mobile back to work improving the lives of others.

How should I do it?
Mobile phones can be easily donated for reuse or recycling in many ways. Companies listed under Reuse and Recycling in will be able to advise you how these companies and charities can put your mobile back to good use and help to keep the environment cleaner.