Mobile Phone Recycling – Donate, protect the environment

 
Scope and the Aussie Recycling Program (ARP) are collecting second hand mobile phones – protecting the environment and using the proceeds to support Scope clients.

Mobiles that are discarded are usually placed in landfill which is harmful to the environment. Components and chemicals within the phones contain poisonous substances which if disposed of incorrectly, can decompose and seep into the soil and groundwater; affecting the food chain. These chemicals can also cause personal harm.

Supported and endorsed by Clean Up Australia, Scope and ARP will ensure that your phone donation is re-used or recycled. Furthermore, every mobile phone collected will raise funds for Scope to provide services for people with a disability.

Reuse, recycle and support people with a disability

Scope receives money for every mobile phone recovered. All phones collected are extensively tested, repaired if necessary, refurbished and resold into developing countries where low cost handsets are needed.  Mobile phones that can not be reused have their components extracted to be used as spare parts.

Phones that are seriously damaged are sent to material recycling, where materials can be recovered and put back into productive use. The remaining materials are sent for disposal in an environmentally friendly manner with licensed recyclers, with no materials going to landfill.

So not only can you support Scope to raise funds for people with a disability but you can save the environment and assist communities in need. 

Anyone can participate

Whether you wish to donate as an individual or encourage donations by staff and customers through your organisation, it is easy to participate.

Organisations can encourage staff and customers to donate their unwanted mobile phones. Participating shopping centres have given free post mobile phone satchels out to customers. Retailers have placed collection boxes at key locations and prominent areas. Organisations have placed collection boxes at reception or at lunch rooms. Read a case study of how Kimberly-Clark Australia implemented their campaign.

Corporate Sponsorships are available and offer a great initiative to help achieve corporate social and environmental objectives. By committing to a sponsorship your organisation can reach these social objectives in an easy and meaningful way. Please contact fundraising to discuss the many possibilities available.

Collecting mobile phones is a wonderful and practical way for students to help the environment. To help in children’s learning of reuse and recycling of mobile phones, Scope has devised a fantastic activity plan that caters for all year levels in primary school. There is information and an outline of lesson plans for teachers and diagrams, mazes, surveys, and colouring in ‘recycling’ activities for children. Scope can provide posters, take-home satchels and collection. 

How to donate

Register by calling Scope on 1800 815 768 or contact fundraising and we will send you either a collection box, free-post mobile phone satchels or point of sale mobile phone satchel dispensers.

Alternatively you can register online and nominate Scope as the beneficiary for funds raised from recycling your mobile phones.  Or download, print, complete and fax to us the registration form (PDF 92 KB).

Satchels can be posted with the mobile phone inside or you can call us for a courier pick up when your collection box is full.

Courier pick up request form (PDF 93 KB).

Supported by the Aussie Recycling Program and Clean Up Australia.