| Recent research has found that there are up too as | | | | registration they are sent a freepost envelope in which |
| many as 90 million old mobile phones sat around | | | | to return their old mobiles in and payment is sent within |
| people's homes and offices in the UK. This had led to | | | | a matter of days. |
| many businesses and local councils starting recycling | | | | It's not just online recycling sites that are seeing a big |
| schemes in order for people to dispose of their old | | | | increase in the amount of old mobiles being recycled |
| phones correctly. | | | | but also government drop off points and high street |
| The vast majority of British people are now aware | | | | stores. Most towns and cities in the UK now have a |
| that old mobile phones and other electronic products | | | | recycling centre where old phones can be dropped off |
| can be recycled due to a number of awareness | | | | in order to be recycled correctly. Some town centres |
| campaigns operated by the government. These | | | | also offer drop off points on the high street where |
| campaigns show the amount of damage old mobile | | | | consumers can deposit their old mobile phones. Many |
| phones can do to the environment if they are not | | | | charities in the UK are also looking for old phones so |
| disposed of correctly. | | | | they can be sent to developing countries and reused |
| In 2009 online searches for mobile recycling related | | | | by people who have no other form of communication. |
| sites rose significantly and this is expected to continue | | | | Other electronic products such as MP3 players, |
| well into 2010 and beyond. The main reasons for this | | | | Games Consoles and Digital Cameras are also being |
| increase is partly due to lots more people being | | | | recycled more by people not only wanting to earn |
| educated on the environmental effects old phones can | | | | some extra cash but to do their bit for the |
| have on the environment and also the amount of | | | | environment. |
| recycling services that are now available both on and | | | | With so many mobile recycling services now available |
| offline. | | | | it's not surprising that recycling rates are increasing so |
| A quick search online will find many mobile recycling | | | | rapidly, this is great news as less mobile phones will |
| sites which will buy old handsets in exchange for either | | | | end up at landfill and stop causing as much damage to |
| a cash payment or for shopping vouchers. Consumers | | | | the environment. |
| are provided with an instant online price, after | | | | |