Tuesday, February 16, 2010
A new report has branded "Australians as mobile phone ‘hoarders’, with people still holding onto old, unusable analogue mobiles up to 12 years old.
The report, Australia: A Nation of Hoarders, was developed by Australia’s not-for-profit mobile phone recycling program, MobileMuster, with the assistance of online auction site, eBay.com.au. It investigates the ‘real value’ of the mobile phones hidden away in drawers and cupboards across the country.
“Australians understand that throwing mobiles into landfill can be harmful to the environment – but instead of recycling them, some 14 to 16 million old, broken and unused phones are being hoarded in homes and offices,” says Rose Read, Manager Recycling, Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA).
The report reveals phones dating back to 1987 are still being sent in for recycling and a staggering 41 per cent of ‘hoarded’ phones are four or more years old.
“With 24.22 million Australian mobile phone subscribers upgrading every 18 to 24 months, the potential environmental impact of old handsets, batteries and accessories is growing.
“If the 14 to 16 million units stashed around the country were recycled, the materials recovered could produce 3.2 million aluminium cans, 160,000 plastic fence posts, and save enough greenhouse gases to take 5,180 cars permanently off the road,” says Ms Read.
So why are Australians hoarding old mobiles? The report reveals that many people feel their old mobile is still ‘worth something’ – whether it be a sentimental attachment or for its perceived monetary value.
“Instead of recycling old phones, Australians are keeping them because they think they are worth something or as a trusty back-up, but many remain unused and nearly a third are believed to be broken and not in working order,” says Ms Read.
AMTA recently surveyed mobile phone users on what they estimated their old phone to be worth. The results were surprising with some Australians estimating their old phones to be worth as much as $1,000. Others were more realistic, with the average estimated re-sale value close to $27. Interestingly, 35 per cent believe that their phone has no re-sale value.
For those holding on to old phones because they might still be worth something to their wallet, MobileMuster enlisted the help of eBay to see what second-hand mobiles were available on eBay.com.au.
In the final quarter of 2009, 4,075 used mobile phones were listed on eBay.com.au.
“Used mobile phones and their accessories are popular items for sale on eBay and there certainly can be bargains for buyers. However, the final sale price differs significantly depending on the model, condition and most importantly, the age of the mobile phone being listed,” says eBay spokesperson Sian Gipslis.
“Looking back at the sales for the last quarter of 2009 there were some newer models that sold very well, however, older models don’t tend to bring in the same amount of dollars,” continues Mrs Gipslis.
According to eBay.com.au, the most popular phones to be sold were less than two years old, with second hand sales of some of the latest models fetching up to $500. Some of the most popular used models to sell were those less than two years old such as the Nokia N and 6000 series, Apple iPhone and some of the latest Samsung models.
However, almost 40 per cent of the mobile phones for sale in the quarter were listed on eBay.com.au for around $20. The majority of these phones were four or more years old, with some two to four years old.
MobileMuster also developed its own ‘watchlist’ to track the prices of a variety of used phones aged four or more years old listed on eBay.com.au. The average sale price for most was little more than $20 – with some struggling to find buyers at all.
“The eBay data and ‘watchlist’ demonstrate old mobiles, especially those four or more years old, often have a small re-sale value or none at all, and are most likely to be worth more to the environment than to your wallet,” says Ms Read.
According to Dr Pol McCann, sociologist and program director at psychological and counselling college, Jansen Newman Institute, individuals are ‘attached’ to their old mobile phones for a number of reasons.
“For many of us, we think about the initial cost of our old mobile phone and continue to value it at that same level. People also attach sentimental value to old phones because the messages sent and received are so personal.
“It’s important however that we recognise that these are just material items. We should ask ourselves; do we really need to keep them? Is the sentimental value more important than recycling them?” says Dr McCann.
AMTA recently conducted an audit of 1,000 handsets sent in for recycling. Over a one month period, MobileMuster received nearly 270 different brands and models dating back to 1987, including analogue mobiles that were phased out in 2000 and can no longer be used.
“There were various CDMA handsets and many different types of GSM models from brands like Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Blackberry, Motorola, LG, Siemens, Sagem, NEC, Panasonic and Sharp.
“Eight out of the top 10 mobiles recycled in October 2009 were four or more years old. Typically we don’t receive many phones that are less than 12 months old unless they are broken,” says Ms Read.
According to Read, whether Australians have one mobile phone tucked away or four, the best thing to do is to make sure it, or the materials in it, are being put to good use.
“Keeping one old phone for emergencies make sense, but if you have more than one unused old mobile, then it’s time to clear out the clutter.
“Mobiles that are broken or four or more years old are best off recycled, so the materials can be reused to make new products. This will slow Australia’s demand on natural resources, reduce energy use and prevent future greenhouse gas emissions – creating a sustainable future at no cost to the individual,” concludes Ms Read.
Mobile phones are not biodegradable but they are recyclable. Up to 90 per cent of the materials used in a mobile can be recycled into useful items like plastic fence posts, stainless steel and even jewellery. The environmental savings from re-using these materials instead of mining or manufacturing new materials is also significant.
Recycling an old mobile phone is free and easy, simple:
1. Drop them off at your mobile phone retailer / local collection point - click here to find out where or call 1300 730 070
2. Pick up a free MobileMuster recycling satchel from Australia Post and post them in
3. Download and print off a reply paid mailing label and post them in
ENDS
Interviews available with:
- Rose Read, Manager Recycling, Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA)
- Sian Gipslis, eBay spokesperson
- Dr Pol McCann, sociologist and program director at psychological and counselling college, Jansen Newman Institute
Click here for copy of report
To arrange an interview please contact:
About MobileMuster:
MobileMuster, is a not-for-profit program funded solely by mobile phone manufacturers and network carriers to collect and recycle mobile phones. All mobiles are recycled to the highest environmental standards. None are refurbished or sold for reuse. |
