17 million gadgets dumped at landfill
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 - 12:37:41
British people are gradually getting the mobile-phone recycling message, but figures suggest that at least 17 million gadgets of all shapes and sizes have still been simply dumped in amongst household waste, which means they end up at landfill.
This is according to network provider O2, which points out that most people who get rid of their gadgets in this way could have earned themselves a pretty penny by recycling it online.
A report in the Independent suggests that up to £40 per gadget could have been made from each of the 17 million items which are thought to have been disposed of wastefully, which means that the amount of cash being ignored is seriously starting to mount up.
Of course, many old mobiles are not thrown away immediately and instead remain in the homes of their owners, neglected in a drawer or box as they accumulate dust and lose value. Provider Orange reported last year that there could be mobiles worth £2.7 billion sitting in limbo across the country, which is a very significant amount of cash, particularly during these tough economic times.
For many, the financial incentive is enough to get them into mobile recycling. But if you want a more altruistic reason to part ways with your old phone for cash, then the thought that you could be doing your bit for the environment might be encouragement enough.
Not only will harmful components within the phone be carefully recycled or ethically disposed of, but the precious elements which are increasingly rare and expensive will be put back into circulation and will help to power the mobiles of tomorrow.
Whether your motive for selling a phone for recycling is purely financial or to benefit the environment, there really is no good reason for leaving it unused and unloved when it could be put to good use.
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