Leading recycler  WSN Environmental Solutions has joined forces with Eurobodalla Shire Council and MobileMuster, to offer a service that allows Shire residents to recycle their old mobile phones without even leaving the house.

Residents can recycle their mobile phones, batteries, chargers and accessories by simply placing them into the red recycling satchel that will be delivered to Shire households in the coming weeks, and putting it in their recycling bin.

WSN Environmental Solutions CEO Ken Kanofski said with over 80% of mobile phone users keeping or passing on their previous mobile phone when they buy a new phone, there are an estimated 37,000 handsets stored in cupboards and drawers in the Eurobodalla Shire.

“This represents between four and seven tonnes of plastics and metals that could be recycled and reused to make new items like plastic fence posts, stainless steel and jewellery,” Mr Kanofski said.

“More than 17,500 of these mobile phones either don’t work or will never be used again.”

Mr Kanofski added that this number is set to grow even further, following the recent shutdown of the CDMA network.

Once the phones are collected, they are separated from the recycling stream at WSN’s Moruya Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) and sent to MobileMuster for dismantling and recycling.

Residents simply have to follow a three-step plan to recycle their old mobiles:
1.        Round up all your old mobiles and associated accessories including chargers and batteries at home;
2.        Place them in the red satchel/s provided, and
3.        Put them in your recycling bin with your bottles, cans and glass.

Alternatively residents can bring their mobile phones to the council administration building and the waste management facilities and place them in the specially marked bags or and pop them in the MobileMuster boxes.

By recycling and reusing the metals and plastics in mobile phones, residents can help avoid nearly 90% of the greenhouse gases normally emitted in the process of mining and refining the same metals from ore and plastics from petroleum by-products. Recycling mobile phones will also keep potentially harmful substances out of landfill.

Residents are reminded to ensure that all personal information is deleted from the handset and the SIM card is removed and cut up before placing them in the satchel.

For more information contact Aaron Findlay on 9934 7033.