Urgent Need to Prepare Developing Countries for Surge in E-Wastes Rocketing sales of cell phones, gadgets, appliances in China, India, elsewhere forecast Proper e-waste collection, recycling key to recovering valuable materials, protecting health, building new green economy Bali, 22 February 2010 - Sales of electronic products in countries like China and India and across continents such as Africa and Latin America are set to rise sharply in the next 10 years. And, unless action is stepped up to properly collect and recycle materials, many developing countries face the spectre of hazardous e-waste mountains with serious consequences for the environment and public health, according to UN experts in a landmark report released today by UNEP.

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.

MobileMuster to be showcased at the Sustainable Living Festival, Melbourne Now in its eleventh year Melbourne’s Sustainable Living Festival showcases a huge range of exhibitors, talks, workshops, art, films and performances celebrating and inspiring sustainable communities. The Main Event at Federation Square, in the heart of Melbourne, runs from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st of February and features the very best examples of ecological and social sustainability. The event will fuse interactive workshops, talks, demonstrations, artworks, exhibits, films and live performances. In 2009 the Festival at Federation Square attracted over 124,000 visits and engaged more than 450 community volunteers. MobileMuster, the official recycling program of the mobile phone industry, will be an exhibitor (Stand 75 near the Design Tent of Federation Square). Milton MobileMuster will be a special guest each day from 1-3 handing out recycling satchels to those attending. To encourage festival attendees to re

The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association is pleased to release the 2008-09 Annual Report for MobileMuster, the official recycling program of the mobile phone industry. This includes PriceWaterhouseCoopers independent assurance report on Key Performance Indicators, for your information. MobileMuster collections continued to increase while disposal of mobile phones to landfill continues to decrease. Annual Collections increased by 26% to 122 tonne this includes 806,000 handsets and batteries as well as 69.7 tonne of accessories. Annual Collection rate of net imports has increased from 5.5% to 7.8% Annual Collection rate of discarded phone increased from 18.9% to 38.2% Diversion from Landfill continues to be greater than 90%

For every phone recycled by December 31 MobileMuster will donate the gift of a chicken through Oxfam Unwrapped to a family in need overseas