Britain has a vast mobile phone mountain of old mobile phones lying around at home. More than one person in three says they have held on to their old phone, rather than giving it away, trading it in, recycling it or throwing it away (The Mobile Life Report 2006).
With this in mind Mobiles.co.uk are campaigning to ensure that all mobile phone retailers actively encourage their customers to recycle their unwanted phones. Each phone recycled through the Oxfam Bring Bring Scheme means at least 5 to charity, which equates to five school books for developing countries.
Since the partnership between Mobiles.co.uk and the Oxfam Bring Bring Scheme began in November 2005, Mobiles.co.uk customers have raised enough funds to pay for all of the following;
The building of 2 classrooms
10,000 school dinners, which encourage children living in poor communities to go to school
The training of 15 community health workers in hygiene, health awareness or counselling which help them to keep their community healthy.
The planting of 25 trees, which provide not only food and shelter, but also help to slow soil erosion
3 donkeys which can be used for carrying water, powering irrigation and also give a source of free fertiliser.
All producers, retailers and distributors of mobile phones must already comply with ‘The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive)’. This directive aims to reduce impact on the environment by promoting the re-use and recycling of electronic products. The directive enforces corporate responsibility by making the producers and retailers responsible for financing the collection, treatment and recovery of their electrical products.
By using incentives and inviting their customers to use the pre-paid bags supplied with every new phone, Mobiles.co.uk can ensure that they are not only giving to the third world but they are also protecting the environment by keeping electronic waste out of our already full landfill sites. This already successful scheme shows other companies how simple and easy it is to help benefit others, and Mobiles.co.uk is keen to encourage others to embrace Bring Bring.
To find out more about the Oxfam Bring Bring Scheme, please visit:
OXfam Bring Bring
Mobiles.co.uk Recycling
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[Source: The UK Mobile Phone Blog]
