MobileMuster

 MobileMuster is the official national recycling program of the mobile phone industry in Australia.

Initiated voluntarily by the telecommunications industry in 1999 its overall aim is to prevent mobile phones ending up in landfill.

The program collects and recycles mobile phone handsets, batteries and accessories from a network of over 3500 public drop off points including mobile phone retailers, local councils, government agencies educational institutions and businesses across Australia. 

The drop off point for the area is located in the Berrigan Shire office, alternatively you can pick up a free recycling satchel at participating Australia Post outlets.

Over 90% of mobile phone components can be recycled.

MobileMuster is a not for profit program, all phones are recycled to the highest environmental standards, none are refurbished and sold.  The program is managed by the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association on behalf of its members.  The program is funded by a levy paid by the majority of handset manufacturers and all network service providers on each handset they ship into Australia.

Mobile Phone Recycling Facts

(Figures current at 31 December 2008)

•  There are over 21 million mobile phone subscribers

• There are over 3,500 MobileMuster collection points across Australia, including Nokia Care and Motorola Service One Centres; mobile phone retailers Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, 3 Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Crazy Johns, Fone Zone, Allphones as well as participating local councils, Cartridge World stores and selected ANZ* and Sydney Credit Union branches             (*Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra)

• Australians upgrade or exchange their mobile phones every 18 to 24 months

• 80% of people choose to keep or give away their old mobile phones, less than 4% throw them out

• Net imports of mobile phones into Australia for 2007/08 were 8.9 million units. This is equivalent to 1,774 tonnes (assuming average unit weight of 200g – handset, battery, charger and accessory included)

• In 2007/2008 MobileMuster collected 97 tonnes of mobile phone components including 755,200 handsets and batteries

• 557 tonnes of handsets, batteries, chargers and accessories have been collected since the recycling program was initiated by AMTA in 1999. This includes 3.83 million batteries and handsets

• One tonne of mobile phone circuits can yield the same amount of precious metals as 110 tonnes of gold ore, 123 tonnes of silver bearing ore and 11 tonnes of copper sulphide ore

• Mobile phones are not biodegradable and contain small amounts of potentially harmful substances which if not managed properly may harm the environment

• MobileMuster is a whole of industry not for profit program that is funded voluntarily by handset and accessory manufacturers Nokia, Motorola, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Sony Ericsson, Sharp, I-Mate, Force Technology and network carriers Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, 3 Mobile, Virgin Mobile and AAPT

• All recycling of mobile phone components is to the highest environmental standards. None of the mobiles are refurbished or resold.