MobileMuster turns 21

Mobile recycling program MobileMuster celebrated its 21st birthday last week, having collected almost 1500 tonnes of mobiles and accessories since it began in 1998 and 84.1 tonnes of mobile phone components in the last year alone.

MobileMuster said over 95% of materials from mobiles and accessories can be recovered through its recycling process and used to make new products, with glass, metal and plastic all having the “potential for a second life”.

Australian Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans commended MobileMuster on its achievements, calling it a “fantastic example of a product stewardship success story”.

The program, which has saved over 14 million handsets and batteries from landfill, has 3500 public drop-off points across Australia and the support of more than 92% of manufacturers and 84% of network carriers, according to Evans.

“The success of the program over the last 21 years demonstrates that Australian industries can voluntarily take action to reduce the impact their products have on the environment, without the need for heavy-handed regulation,” Evans said.

“The scheme helps consumers and businesses minimise greenhouse gas emissions, save energy, protect the environment and conserve finite natural resources, while also stopping potentially hazardous materials from polluting the environment.”

In light of these benefits, the federal government has pledged $20 million for a Product Stewardship Investment Fund to help spur new industry-led stewardship schemes for batteries, electronic products, photovoltaic systems and plastic oil containers.

Product stewardship is the responsibility of all people and businesses involved in producing, selling, using and disposing of the products, the government said.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Maksym Yemelyanov