The 6 Steps of Recycling

AMTA's recycler TES-AMM Australia in Sydney and Melbourme dismantles, sorts, stores and processes the mobile phone handsets, batteries, chargers and accessories collected by MobileMuster.

Step 1
Dismantle and sort into the following components - batteries (NiCad, NiMetHyd, Lithium Ion), printed circuit boards, handsets, chargers/accessories, plastics, metals and paper/cardboard packaging.

Step 2
Batteries are stored and then shipped to approved recyclers in OECD countries.

Currently, lithium ion batteries are shippped to TES-AMM in Singapore where they are processed for cobalt and lithium.  All nickel cadmium and nickel metal hydride batteries are shipped to Kobar Ltd in South Korea where they are processed for nickel (to make stainless steel), cadmium (go into new batteries) and copper. 

Step 3
Circuit boards are stored and then shipped to TES-AMM in Singapore where they are processed for precious metals including gold, silver, copper and lead.

Step 4
Handset casings are sent to local plastics manufacturer Australian Composite Technology which shreds and uses the plastic to produce composite plastic fence posts.

Step 5
Accessories are processed by TES-AMM in Singapore who shred and then separate the plastics from the ferrous and non ferrous metals for reuse. 

Step 6
Packaging is separated into plastic and paper and sent to local recyclers for processing. 

This recycling process is highly efficient, has high productivity and provides a complete breakdown of chemical compounds. It is suitable for all mobile phones and batteries. The process is also successful in preventing the reformation of environmentally damaging compounds such as dioxins and furans in the exhaust gas stream.