Mobile Phone Recycling Still in its Infancy

Only 1 in 4 plan to recycle their mobiles in the UK – but this is far higher than other EU countries.

GfK Technology research has identified that only one in four British consumers are planning to recycle their mobile phones, despite efforts from the mobile phone industry to encourage this practice. Results also showed that there is significant variation by country, with the UK and the USA well ahead of other markets in planning to recycle:

Percentage of consumers planning to donate their old phone for recycling

UK	24.5%
USA	26.1%
Italy	4.0%
Germany	6.7%

While only 24.5% plan on recycling their phones, only 20% of UK consumers expect to trade in their old mobile phones to get a discount on a new purchase. Others plan on donating their phone to someone else; and one in four British mobile users are expecting to keep their old mobile phone, the overwhelming reason for which was as a back up in case something went wrong with their new phone.

Percentage of consumers planning on keeping their mobile phones after replacement

UK	25.8%
USA	27.6%
Italy	56.8%
Germany	42.7%

Alistair Shutt, head of the Environmental Research Practice at GfK Technology said, "This demonstrates an opportunity for mobile phone companies to significantly contribute to the environment.  The amount of formal recycling of mobile phones is encouraging in some markets but very poor in other.  However, a fair amount of what might not be considered to be traditional recycling is effectively taking place already, with consumers giving their handset away to a friend, reselling it or trading it in.”

Shutt continues, "There is clearly a case to continue to educate consumers about the environmental cost of their old mobile phone and this probably means making recycling a very simple process for consumers.”

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