Study suggests mobile recycling improvements are essential
Wednesday, September 21, 2016 - 12:17:06
A new report into the mobile industry, commissioned by the EU, has revealed that almost half of all the gold that lays dormant in second hand smartphones does not get properly processed so that it can be reused, according to Recycling Portal.
Politicians and campaigners, alike, are eager to forge a future in which the continent’s economy operates in a circular manner, meaning that waste needs to be eliminated and mobile phone recycling must be embraced. But this requires increased awareness and action if sustainability is to be achieved.
When mobile phones are sent to be recycled, analysts estimate that roughly four fifths of their residual value is related to the gold which they contain. So if a device cannot be reused, it is necessary for this and other precious metals to be extracted to make the process economically viable.
Analysts looked at a number of other studies on this topic and concluded that there were four key areas in which action can be taken in order to address concerns about e-waste generated through mobile ownership.
Firstly, they believe it is necessary to boost the efficiency and effectiveness of the process by which old phones are collected for recycling. Secondly, they argue that manufacturers and network providers should do more to encourage people to use their existing handsets for longer, rather than upgrading regularly.
It is also suggested that the amount of gold recovered from developing nations should be increased, while incentivising people in western countries to recycle their old phones rather than leaving them dormant in drawers and other storage spaces, where their internal resources remain inaccessible.
There are other aspects which come into play, but experts have concluded that these are the areas which will make the most difference in terms of creating a circular economy.
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