Aurion
08.07.08, 17:51
Most retired mobile phones are left in drawers instead of being recycled, according to a global survey conducted by Nokia.
A mere 3 percent of the 6,500 people interviewed for the survey recycled their mobile phones. Fortunately, only 4 percent end up in landfills, according to the survey. About 44 percent are simply stored at home. Many consumers also give phones to friends and family or just sell them.
A lack of awareness is the biggest challenge, according to Susan Allsopp, Nokia spokeswoman. Some 74 percent of consumers said they don't think about recycling their phones, and half aren't even aware that phones can be recycled.
"We were surprised by the low levels of awareness, but at the same time it's an opportunity for us to work with people to raise that number," Allsopp said.
To illustrate how an improved rate of recycling can affect the environment, Nokia said that if each of the 3 billion mobile phone owners recycled one, it would mean 240,000 tons of raw materials could be reused. The carbon emissions saved by reuse of that material would be the equivalent of taking 4 million cars off the road, Nokia said.
Source :
PC World - Nokia Survey: Old Mobile Phones Usually End up in Drawers (http://www.pcworld.com/article/148051/nokia_survey_old_mobile_phones_usually_end_up_in_d rawers.html)
A mere 3 percent of the 6,500 people interviewed for the survey recycled their mobile phones. Fortunately, only 4 percent end up in landfills, according to the survey. About 44 percent are simply stored at home. Many consumers also give phones to friends and family or just sell them.
A lack of awareness is the biggest challenge, according to Susan Allsopp, Nokia spokeswoman. Some 74 percent of consumers said they don't think about recycling their phones, and half aren't even aware that phones can be recycled.
"We were surprised by the low levels of awareness, but at the same time it's an opportunity for us to work with people to raise that number," Allsopp said.
To illustrate how an improved rate of recycling can affect the environment, Nokia said that if each of the 3 billion mobile phone owners recycled one, it would mean 240,000 tons of raw materials could be reused. The carbon emissions saved by reuse of that material would be the equivalent of taking 4 million cars off the road, Nokia said.
Source :
PC World - Nokia Survey: Old Mobile Phones Usually End up in Drawers (http://www.pcworld.com/article/148051/nokia_survey_old_mobile_phones_usually_end_up_in_d rawers.html)