Disposing of Electrical Waste: Mobile Phones
'Cadmium, mercury and aluminium alloys', combined, these resounds like terms relating to science, but they are much closer to home. In fact, there's a high chance you are holding all three while reading this article, that's because they are all commonly found in mobile phones. These complex sounding materials live up their names when it comes to disposing of them, recycling them in their entirety is nearly impossible. Instead, phones and other electronics must take a different route to avoid being lodged in the earth for centuries at landfill sites.
At Re-Gen, we do our utmost to solve waste problems for huge companies, as well as local governments, but in this piece, we explore the huge problem of recycling diminutive phones.
Can I just throw my mobile away?
No. Mobile phones in waste, cause a literally explosive problem. The chemicals used in batteries and the various metals used on the outside do not bode well under pressure, it is illegal to bin certain batteries as you could maim waste operatives. Secondly, there's the environmental aspect, phones don't biodegrade, they are held together by gold, silver and plastic, so technically they could outlast humankind. To put these matters into context, a plastic bag could take up to a thousand years to biodegrade, and they contain a distinct lack of precious metals.
So, if a phone is left at landfill, we can say goodbye to the materials that made it, they are now left to not rot. Shockingly however 80% of your mobile phone could be recycled, however, it must be separated by experts, never take it apart yourself.
How should I dispose of my mobile phone?
In the UK & Ireland, there are numerous ways you can dispose of mobile phones, including dedicated high street and online stores, donation centres/charities and recycling centres. So, consider three things before disposing of your mobile: Is it in working order? Do you have all the parts (chargers, box and accessories)? Is it relatively up to date?
If it's yes to all three, you could sell the phone online yourself or donate it to a charity shop who could sell it in aid of a good cause. If you are on the verge of buying a new phone, some retailers will give you a reduction based on the condition of your older model. Keeping the phone in circulation is the best option for the environment as it's longer lifecycle keeps it working with no additional resources.
If your phone no longer works, you still have options, some repair stores will buy old phones for parts or repair and resell. Again, some charities accept old phones because they have an agreement with businesses who could support them. Or, you could recycle it at a recycling centre in the 'small electricals' boxes, you may also find these in large supermarkets.
What happens to my phone after I recycle it?
Once your phone begins its’ recycling journey, it will be taken to plant and separated. At Re-Gen, we recycle mobiles under the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive), which relates to household waste with a plug or battery. As phones are made from multiple plastics and metals, some materials will be separated and reformed for future use, others will be transferred for Waste to Energy.
Unfortunately, mobile phones are not yet widely recycled, nor are they made from easy-to-recycle materials. In 2016, only 1% of the UK's mobile phones were recycled according to news site Sputnik. This must change, given that in 2017 there were 1.5 billion mobile phones sold globally. The materials used are also being brought under the spotlight, while companies like Re-Gen are able to recycle more and more, the onus must be on suppliers to adopt more eco-friendly manufacturing techniques.