MobileMuster, the mobile phone industry's official recycling program, is running an 'Old phones, more trees' campaign that will finish on 30 September. Those who recycle their old phones and accessories between 5–11 September will also be helping to show support for Landcare Week.
"Over 19 million Australians live within 50 kilometres of the coast and there are 19 million old and broken mobile phones lying around in Australian homes unused. It seems we Aussies love the beach and holding onto our old mobiles," says World Champion surfer Layne Beachley.
"Every old mobile phone recycled with MobileMuster will enable Landcare and Coastcare groups to make real a difference to our coastline. This year we are aiming to collect and recycle 250,000 handsets and to plant up to 25,000 trees," says Rose Read, MobileMuster Manager, Recycling.
The 'Old phones, more trees' campaign and partnership with Landcare Australia is now in its fifth year. MobileMuster aims to collect twice as many handsets as it did last year, and will provide grants to Landcare and Coastcare groups as a result.
"The funding provided through 'Old phones, more trees' will enable 25 Landcare and Coastcare groups to maintain and protect our coastline through dune restoration, revegetation, weed management and the protection of vital coastal habitats," says Landcare Australia CEO, Heather Campbell.
"Landcare Week is all about raising awareness of the invaluable work that local volunteer groups do for our environment, and recycling an old mobile phone is a fantastic way to help them continue with this great work," says Ms Campbell.
Did you know?
- 90% of a mobile phone is recyclable? These materials can be used to make gold rings, aluminium cans, plastic fence posts and stainless steel items.
- Recycling 250,000 old phones, batteries and accessories equals 48,000 aluminium cans, 2,400 plastic fence posts and also avoids the need to mine more than 728 tonnes of gold ore, 808 tonnes of silver ore and 178 tonnes of copper sulphide
Since 2007 the 'Old phones, more trees' campaign has recycled more than 149,000 kilograms of mobile phones and accessories and enabled Landcare groups to plant more than 255,000 trees across Australia.
"We are extremely lucky in Australia to have access to more than 47,000 kilometres of unique coastal habitats. There are also 3,500 MobileMuster public drop-off points Australia wide, including all major mobile phone retailers, Officeworks and participating councils," says Ms Read.
"By recycling your old mobiles at one of these drop-off points you will be helping plant 25,000 trees around our coastline; it's that easy and won't cost you a cent," says Ms Read.
Recycling an old mobile phone is free and easy, simply:
- Hand 'em in at your mobile phone retailer / MobileMuster local collection point - to find your nearest one go to www.mobilemuster.com.au or call 1300 730 070
- Post 'em in by either picking up a free MobileMuster recycling satchel from Australia Post or printing off a reply paid mailing label from www.mobilemuster.com.au
Image supplied
