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Environmentalists are calling for the introduction of a refundable deposit system for mobile phones. Environment Victoria estimates Australia’s 12 million mobile phone users replace their handset every 18 – 24 months creating a toxic waste disposal dilemma.
A report published by computer trade industry publication Computerworld points to comments by Environment Victoria spokesperson Jenny Henty that indicate the voluntary recycling scheme run by the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) is a failure with only three percent of phones being recycled. This leaves more than 30 million at risk of being dumped in landfills, she claims.
Mobile phones contain an array of toxic substances such as arsenic, beryllium and cadmium, but also contain some recoverable and valuable metals like gold – making recycling a worthwhile endeavour.
Henty said: "Mobile phones contain a litany of hazardous chemicals that are lethal to human health and the environment when dumped in landfills," the article reports.
Environment Victoria is calling for either a refundable $10 deposit, others suggest a one off payment of $5 for phones submitted for recycling by consumers.
However, the AMTA disagrees claiming its research suggests 42 percent of phone users keep their old handsets, while 18 percent pass them to a friend. Only 9 percent throw them away the AMTA claims.
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