Recycling mobile phones ‘benefits charities, environment and pockets’

Recycling mobile phones not only helps the environment but can also benefit charities and our pockets, according to a specialist.

Mike Webster, spokesperson for environmental organisation Waste Watch, is urging people to either give mobile phones a long life or get them re-salvaged so they can help someone else.

“You’d be silly not to get them recycled. For a start you can get paid for it,” he said. “It’s also a great source of income for organisations like charities … we would try to encourage people to get a good life out of their phone.”

He added that mobile phones are jam-packed full of metals that are increasing in value due to market demand.

It seems that our devices are little money mines for a lot of reasons and yet most of us throw them in the ‘messy drawer’ or put them in the bin.

But Mr Webster is trying to steer people away from chucking them out, as their batteries “leak various nasty and unpleasant” chemicals.

Research from Consumer Focus earlier this year revealed that nearly 70 per cent of us are hoarding one or more old mobile phones, which amounts to 85 million that could be put to better use.

However, there is progress on the horizon, as the number that was recycled in 2009 reached eight million, which is double the figure from 2008.

So it seems to be a choice between having a couple of old plastic devices cluttering up the drawers in our homes, or cashing them in for a bit of extra pocket money and helping the environment at the same time … I know which one I’d choose!