Everything you need to know about recycling mobile phones
WARNING! Do not put mobile phones in recycling or garbage bins - the batteries inside are hazardous and a fire hazard. Recycling Mobile Phones includes: Android & iPhonesSmartphonesHandsetsAndroid phonesCell phonesFlip phonesMobile devicePocket phoneWireless phoneMobile phone batteriesMobile phone accessoriesCell phone batteriesPhone handsetsMobile phone chargersCell phone chargers
For 20 years Shred-X Secure Destruction has been the number one choice for confidential secure destruction, document shredding, office paper recycling and destroying sensitive data. Shred-X has since expanded on available service offerings and now offers secure destruction, repurposing and recycling solutions for an array of products other than paper, including electronics (e-Waste), products, accessories, uniforms and textiles.
We offer secure destruction solutions for private households through to large global corporations and the highest security government departments.
I.T.Collect offers a full service electronic waste (e-waste) removal, destruction and recycling service. We come to you. We do all the hard work. We take everything out of your room, shed, storage unit or wherever you have your e-waste stored and take it away to be disassembled, shredded and recycled. Fees apply depending on the travel distance and volume and type of products you need recycled. No drop-offs are accepted.
Gregory’s Recycling is a family owned business based in Campbellfield and offers the convenience of a pick-up service from your work site, office or home.
We collect all types of Metals, eWaste items (Computers, IT, etc.) White goods, Medical devices and equipment. We have hook bins ranging in sizes from 10 to 23 cubic metres which can be delivered to your site for a few hours or several weeks depending on your job requirements.
At Latrobe Valley ewaste and recycling service we offer collection and drop off of all size ewaste and whitegoods. All sizes welcome from personal to large industry companies, its free to call us to organise collection, drop-offs or just arrive at the listed location with your goods.
ManMade Cycle provides the following services:
IT Equipment Recycling: We responsibly reuse of and recycle outdated laptops, other IT equipment, cables, and accessories.
Asset Buyback: We offer competitive buyback prices for a range of devices, including but not limited to MacBooks, Windows laptops, serves, tablets, phones, and other IT equipment.
Data Erasure: Our comprehensive data erasure services come with certified data erasure certificates for your peace of mind.
Please don't hesitate to contact us. Our team is here to assist you in achieving your ESG goals!
We are the most trusted JUNK and Rubbish Removal service in Australia and the reason why is that we know how to make cleaning up and getting rid of your RUBBISH and JUNK as easy as possible!
At JUNK all you need to do is to let us know how much Rubbish and JUNK you have and we will handle the rest! Just point and shoot and we will make your Rubbish and JUNK disappear.
Our JUNK Crew will come to your home, business, worksite, factory, or office to load the RUBBISH and JUNK into our vehicle and take it to our own Recycling & Resource Recovery Centre to sort and recycle your old JUNK & RUBBISH responsibly.
Promoting environmentally friendly practices and responsible e-waste recycling services.
Pickups and Collections, Data Destruction, E-Waste Documentation and Policies and Education.
SPC eCycle provides a wide range of E-waste recycling services. We recycle nearly all categories of e waste. We offer free drop-off and conditional free pickup. You can also request further services such as data wiping and data center deconstructing. Here at SPC we try to make your work as easy as possible. You can just give us a call and we will do the rest of the work for you.
Welcome to E-waste Victoria, your partner for responsible electronic waste recycling in Melbourne, Australia. Our cutting-edge facilities and expert team ensure the eco-friendly disposal of electronic devices. From collection to processing, we extract valuable materials for reuse, adhering to the highest environmental standards. Data security is paramount, and our secure data destruction guarantees privacy. We collaborate with businesses, offering tailored e-waste management solutions and driving awareness about responsible disposal. Choose E-waste Victoria to transform electronic waste into a valuable resource, contributing to a cleaner, greener future.
Primarily Bendigo E Waste, is committed to repair or recovery of hardware and materials in the Electronics space. We offer collections and Free Drop Off as well as data destruction as part of our services. Ideally we restore as much hardware as possible, prior to any recovery of commodities from items beyond repair. Check out our website for the complete range of services on offer.
The Junk Crew aims to be quicker than the council and cheaper and more convenient than a skip bin. We are more than just your typical junk removal company. Located in Melbourne, Australia, we are a youthful, dynamic, and energetic team, driven by a passion for positively impacting our community and the environment. Unlike other junk removal services that may prioritise quantity, our core mission is to minimize waste and enhance sustainability. We achieve this by focusing on recycling every element of our junk removal process.
We firmly believe in the adage that one person’s junk is another person’s treasure. This belief drives our approach to every item we collect, ensuring it is meticulously hand-sorted with a strong commitment to recycling, rehoming, or donating wherever feasible. Our dedicated team works tirelessly to separate recyclable and salvageable items, ensuring they are given a new lease of life.
Our services encompass a wide range of junk removal, from furniture disposal to electronic waste removal in Melbourne. We handle every type of junk with the utmost care and responsibility. Each load we manage represents a step towards a cleaner and greener planet. Our goal is to minimize our environmental footprint, affirming our role in keeping our Melbourne community clean and sustainable.
Mobile phones, landline phones, chargers, and mobile accessories should never be put in your household recycling bin. They can be recycled, but only through specialised recycling programs.
Australia has a national recycling scheme for mobile phones run by not-for-profit MobileMuster. Recycling your old or broken mobile phone is easy, with more than 3,000 free public drop-off points across Australia and a free mailing service. Recycling points include major phone retailers such as Optus, Telstra, and Vodafone, as well as Officeworks stores.
How to use the recycling scheme
Simply visit a recycling point to drop off your old, broken or unwanted mobile phones and accessories. Use the directory on this page to find a location near you.
Alternatively, you can post your mobile phones and accessories to MobileMuster for free by requesting a pre-paid satchel or picking one up from local Australia Post store. If you would prefer to use your own packaging, you can download a pre-paid label and drop your package off at the post office or post box.
What can you recycle?
MobileMuster accepts any type of mobile phone for recycling. They also accept mobile phone batteries, chargers and accessories like earphones.
At select Telstra, Optus and Vodafone stores, they also accept modems, home landline phones, TV streaming devices, smart speakers, smart digital hubs (only Apple, Amazon, Google products), smartwatches, smart pens, tracking tags and VR headsets (only Apple, Amazon, Fitbit, Google products).
Why recycle?
More than 95% of the materials in mobile phones (like metals, plastic, and glass) can be recovered and used to make new products. Recycling keeps these materials in use and out of landfill, preventing hazardous items like mobile phone batteries from leaching toxic materials into the soil and groundwater.
When you recycle, you are also reducing the need to extract new materials like precious metals from the earth, saving our natural resources in the process. Additionally, recycling prevents pollution and improves air quality by reducing the demand for power used in mining, refining, processing, and shipping of raw materials.
According to MobileMuster, recycling 50,000 mobiles saves 99 tonnes of mineral resources and 19 tonnes of CO2-e emissions. To find out how much impact you’re making from recycling your phone, visit the MobileMuster Calculator.
What happens to it?
Mobile phones, accessories, and other accepted electronic items collected by MobileMuster are transported to one of two recycling facilities in Sydney and Melbourne. Products are dismantled manually with components separated into different streams: circuit boards, metal, glass, plastics, and batteries.
Some plastics and metals are processed in Australia, while circuit boards, batteries, and other plastics are processed by MobileMuster’s recycling partner at their facility in Singapore. These materials are recovered and used to make a range of new products including mobile phones, glass bottles, recycled plastic park benches, electronics, mobile phone batteries, and stainless-steel products.
Nothing the program collects is reused or resold. MobileMuster’s priority is to recover the majority of materials to use in the manufacture of new products.
Image credit: MobileMuster.
Recycling mobiles at work
There are some recycling companies that offer collection and drop-off services for commercial quantities of mobile phones. To find a commercial mobile phone recycler for your workplace or business, visit mobile phones page for businesses.
MobileMuster offers a one-off pick-up service for businesses across the country, accepting all brands of mobile phones, their charges and accessories, smart watches, VR headsets, and mobile broadband devices. To book a one-off collection, contact MobileMuster at mobilemuster@amta.org.au or call1800 249 113.
MobileMuster partners with retailers, repair stores, local councils, and workplaces across Australia to make it easy and accessible for the community to recycle. Find out if your workplace or business can register for a free collection unit that can be used to promote mobile phone recycling to your staff and customers.
Businesses and workplaces can also consider buying second-hand, repairing or selling mobile phones throughphonecycle.
Image credit: MobileMuster.
How to delete data
Before you recycle, sell, or give away your mobile phone, you should remove all personal information. If you are unable to remove the personal information from the phone, it can still be recycled. Any data left on the phone will be destroyed during the recycling process.
Did you know there are currently 22 million unused mobile phones stored in homes across Australia and almost 14 million of these are unusable? If your mobile phone is still working, consider extending its life by either selling it online or passing it on to a friend or family member. This will extend the life of the mobile phone and keep the materials used to make it in use at their highest value for as long as possible. If it no longer works or is no longer wanted, then it’s time to recycle it.
Charities that accept mobile phones
DV Safe Phone collects, repairs and gives free mobile phones to domestic violence survivors, through over 360 Domestic Violence and Law Enforcement Agencies, Safe Houses and Hospitals Australia-wide.
The Reconnect Project is closing Australia’s digital divide by providing refurbished mobile devices to people in need, (re)connecting them with family, friends and essential services. They accept donations of all makes and models of mobile phones and tablets, regardless of their age or condition; and laptops that are less than 10 years old.
Hello Initiative in Western Australia recycle and refurbish donated mobile phones for their Mobile Support Project, which connects young people in the WA justice system with refurbished smartphones. They accept donations of good condition smart phone devices from 2014 onwards and can also coordinate a donation drive for schools, community groups and businesses.
Image credit: MobileMuster.
What is MobileMuster?
MobileMuster is funded voluntarily by major handset manufacturers and network carriers to provide a free mobile phone recycling program. It was established in 1998 and is accredited by the Federal Government.
When you recycle through MobileMuster:
You are recycling through a carbon neutral program.
Everything collected is recycled to the highest environmental standard.
Nothing is ever reused or resold.
Any data left on devices is destroyed in the recycling process.
MobileMuster accepts a range of electronics for recycling including modems, routers, landline phones, smart speakers, smart watches, smart pens, TV streaming devices, tracking tags, and some VR headsets. For more information visit, MobileMuster or call 1800 249 113.
Image credit: MobileMuster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials can be recovered from a mobile phone?
Mobile phones are treasure troves of valuable materials. Recycling them not only helps the environment but also contributes to the global supply of essential resources. Here's a breakdown of the key materials recovered from old phones:
Precious metals •Gold: Used in the phone's circuitry. •Silver: Employed in various components, including the battery. •Palladium: Found in the phone's liquid crystal display (LCD). •Platinum: Used in certain phone components.
Base Metals •Copper: A vital component in the phone's circuitry. •Aluminium: Used in the phone's casing and internal components. •Iron: Found in various phone parts.
Other Materials •Plastics: Used for the phone's casing and internal components. •Glass: Found in the phone's screen and camera lens.
Recycling mobile phones is crucial for conserving natural resources and reducing electronic waste. By properly disposing of your old phone, you're contributing to a more sustainable future. Use the information on this page to find a recycling location or collection service near you.
Who benefits from mobile phone recycling?
Mobile phone recycling is a win-win situation for multiple parties:
1. The Environment •Reduced e-waste: Recycling prevents harmful and valuable materials from ending up in landfills. •Conservation of resources: Recovering valuable metals reduces the need for mining new materials. •Energy savings: Recycling uses less energy than producing new materials.
2. Consumers •Peace of mind: Knowing your old phone is being recycled responsibly. •Potential financial benefits: Some phone providers offer a trade-in service. •Contribution to a sustainable future: Recycling phones keeps valuable materials in use for as long as possible, which reduces the need to extract new materials from the earth.
3. Industry •Access to valuable materials: Recyclers recover precious metals and other components. •Cost reduction: Recycled materials can be cheaper than sourcing new ones. •Positive public image: Demonstrates commitment to sustainability.
4. Community •Job creation: Recycling operations create employment opportunities. •Support for charitable causes: If your phone is in good condition, you can donate it to a charity so it can be passed on to disadvantaged communities.
Can old mobile phones be recycled?
Yes, old mobile phones can definitely be recycled! To recycle your phone, you need to take it to a recycling drop-off point or organise a pick-up service. You cannot recycle your phone by putting it in your recycling bin at home. Use the information on this page to find a location or service near you.
Where can I recycle old mobile phones?
MobileMuster has thousands of recycling drop-off locations around Australia, making it easier than ever to recycle your old phone. Use the directory on this page to find a location near you.
Alternatively, you can post your mobile phones and accessories to MobileMuster for free by requesting a pre-paid satchel or picking one up from local Australia Post store. If you would prefer to use your own packaging, you can download a pre-paid label and drop your package off at the post office or post box.
Is it safe to recycle mobile phones?
There are established and regulated recycling programs in place in Australia, such as MobileMuster, that prioritise safe and environmentally responsible practices. They handle the recycling process securely, ensuring that hazardous materials are properly managed and valuable components are recovered. The phones are dismantled in the recycling process, which destroys any remaining data left on the phone. By recycling your mobile phone through a reputable program, you can rest assured that it's being handled safely and sustainably.
What percentage of mobile phones are recycled?
While the technology exists to recycle nearly 100% of a phone's components, the reality is that a much smaller fraction of mobile phones actually makes it to recycling facilities.
Estimates vary, but it's generally agreed upon that less than 20% of mobile phones are recycled globally. This is a significant issue considering the growing number of phones produced each year and the valuable resources they contain.
While the global average for mobile phone recycling is quite low, Australia has made significant strides in this area. The MobileMuster program has been instrumental in increasing recycling rates in Australia. It provides convenient drop-off points and ensures responsible handling of recycled phones. Since the program’s inception, MobileMuster has collected and recycled over 2,000 tonnes of mobile phone waste and diverted nearly 90% of products collected from landfill.
Where to recycle mobile phones for charity
DV Safe Phone collects, repairs and gives free mobile phones to domestic violence survivors, through over 360 Domestic Violence and Law Enforcement Agencies, Safe Houses and Hospitals Australia-wide.
The Reconnect Project is closing Australia’s digital divide by providing refurbished mobile devices to people in need, (re)connecting them with family, friends and essential services. They accept donations of all makes and models of mobile phones and tablets, regardless of their age or condition; and laptops that are less than 10 years old.
Hello Initiative in Western Australia recycle and refurbish donated mobile phones for their Mobile Support Project, which connects young people in the WA justice system with refurbished smartphones. They accept donations of good condition smart phone devices from 2014 onwards and can also coordinate a donation drive for schools, community groups and businesses.
What happens to mobile phones when they are recycled?
Mobile phones, accessories, and other accepted electronic items collected by MobileMuster are transported to one of two recycling facilities in Sydney and Melbourne. Products are dismantled manually with components separated into different streams: circuit boards, metal, glass, plastics, and batteries.
Some plastics and metals are processed in Australia, while circuit boards, batteries, and other plastics are processed by MobileMuster’s recycling partner at their facility in Singapore. These materials are recovered and used to make a range of new products including mobile phones, glass bottles, recycled plastic park benches, electronics, mobile phone batteries, and stainless-steel products.
Nothing the program collects is reused or resold. MobileMuster’s priority is to recover the majority of materials to use in the manufacture of new products.
What percentage of mobile phones can be recycled?
More than 95% of the materials in mobile phones (like metals, plastic and glass) can be recovered and used to make new products. Recycling keeps these materials in use and out of landfill, preventing hazardous items like mobile phone batteries from leaching toxic materials into the soil and groundwater.
Where can I recycle mobile phone chargers and batteries?
MobileMuster is a national recycling scheme for mobile phones and their accessories, which includes chargers and batteries. Use the directory on this page to find a drop-off location near you. Alternatively, you can post your mobile phones and accessories to MobileMuster for free by requesting a pre-paid satchel or picking one up from local Australia Post store.
Can I post my old mobile phones in to recycle?
Yes, MobileMuster offer a free mailing service for all Australians! Request a pre-paid satchel from MobileMuster or pick one up from local Australia Post store. If you would prefer to use your own packaging, you can download a pre-paid label and drop your package off at the post office or post box.
Why is it important to recycle old mobile phones?
Recycling old mobile phones has environmental, health and economic benefits.
Environmental: •Reduces electronic waste to landfill which is harmful to the environment. •Conserves valuable resources such as precious metals, which reduces the need to mine new materials. •Reduces energy demand as it requires less energy than manufacturing with virgin materials.
Health benefits: •Prevents toxic materials from entering the environment, which can have harmful effects on human health and wildlife. •Recycling prevents pollution and improves air quality by reducing the demand for power used in mining, refining, processing and shipping of raw materials.
Economic: •The recycling industry employs people to process and recover materials from old phones, creating jobs in communities. •Recycling supports innovation by encouraging the development of new technologies for extracting valuable materials from existing items.
Stay in touch
By signing up for updates, you agree to our Privacy Policy
