According to a survey by The Recycling Factory the answer is, very little. The survey reveals that more than half of us (52%) hoard our unused phones at home in case our current handset is stolen, lost or broken. In fact, 68% of us admit to having more than one mobile phone needlessly collecting dust at home. Only 22% of respondents actively recycle their phones, with 21% opting instead to hand down old mobiles to friends and family.
Astonishingly, as many as 4% declare that they actually throw their mobile phones in the bin. Although the average lifespan of a mobile phone is around seven years, a whopping 87% of respondents claim to have had their current handset for less than two years and 81% admit that they upgrade their phones every one to two years.
Tammy Arya, general manager at The Recycling Factory, commented: “This survey shows that over the years we have become increasingly opportunistic and capricious when it comes to mobile phones. We generally change our handsets whenever a new, improved model is available or when we are offered an upgrade. This means that within the seven year average lifespan of a mobile phone most of us will go through around three or four handsets.”
She continued: “As a result, there are now well over 90 million unused mobile phones lying around in drawers throughout the UK, or even worse, being binned. It is vital to encourage the public to start recycling their mobile phones to do their bit for the environment and help to keep unnecessary landfill waste to a minimum –it won’t cost anything.”