Ringing The Changes

If we were asked to replace our electronic goods every year we would be horrified but we make an exception for our mobile phone. Designed to last ten years, they are changed every 18 months creating vast un-recycled waste, say Claire Gillman. As a result of our thirst for frequent mobile upgrades, out-of-fashion handsets are thrown away at a rate of 100 million a year in Europe alone. With less than 20% being recycled, mobiles are becoming a significant source of un-recycled waste. In January 2007 new European-wide regulations regarding the disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) came into force. These aim to reduce the amount of WEEE waste going to landfill, and increase recovery and recycling rates but it is still too early to say whether these measures will be effective. At a more grass-roots level, a phone company called Green Mobile is playing its part in trying to address the environmental impact of the mobile culture and, at the same time, it is raising funds for green charities. Johan Thomsen of Green Mobile says: 'I think public cynicisn exisits because a lot of people have jumped on the green bandwagon and it's hard to decide if it's a marketing ploy or if it is the real deal.' However, Green Mobile's parent company is Resource Utilites who have been operating for over ten years with a strong track record for ethical trading and working in partnership with charities...

by ks
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