Bring out your phones

By Staff Writers

MobileMuster, the official national recycling program of the mobile phone industry, is partnering with local councils around Australia in its bid to recycle 1.5 million mobile phones and batteries a year by 2008.

Mr Chris Althaus, CEO of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) has launched a new interactive MobileMuster Local Council Tool Kit at the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) Annual Conference in Canberra.

The Tool Kit is a free interactive CD designed to help councils promote mobile phone recycling in their local area. It contains information about MobileMuster, publicity tips, media release templates, case studies, fact sheets, key dates and key contacts.

The President of the Australian Local Government Association, Cr Paul Bell AM, said: “Local councils play an important role in educating the community about recycling. It is important that industry support them with the right information and tools so they can inform residents on how and where to recycle recoverable items such as mobile phones.”

“This MobileMuster Local Council Tool Kit will make it easier for participating councils to get the message out to their communities and encourage more people to round up their mobile phones and hand them in.”

Mr Althaus said the MobileMuster Council Tool Kit is an important milestone in the program’s efforts to reach out to Australians who have an estimated 16 million used mobile phones stashed away in their cupboards and desks at home or work.

A mere tonne of these recycled mobile phone circuit boards can yield about the same amount of precious metals as 110 tonnes of gold ore, 123 tonnes of sliver bearing ore and 11 tonnes of copper sulphide ore.

MobileMuster was launched nationally in December 2005 and is funded by 16 leading mobile phone manufacturers and network carriers. Already over 100 councils have joined the program.

For more information visit www.mobilemuster.com.au