Throw-away Brits miss out on benefits of mobile recycling

New research from moneysupermarket.com shows 5.25 million mobile phones are thrown away each year despite the fact they are extremely hazardous to the environment if discarded.

Another 45 million could soon find their way to landfill sites with six in 10 (60 per cent) mobile users not planning to recycling any old handsets.

UK adults have on average two mobiles lying around the house; one in 12 (8 per cent) say they can't be bothered to recycle old phones and one in eight (13 per cent) didn't know they could or didn't know how to go about recycling redundant handsets - potentially missing out on easy money as well as damaging the environment.

James Parker, manager of mobiles at moneysupermarket.com, says; "People are constantly craving the latest gadget. This need to have the best and newest mobile phone on the market has resulted in many people accumulating spare handsets. If people recycle these surplus handsets, not only will they be doing their bit for the environment but they can also make a few pounds. Those people that have thrown away the 5.25 million phones have effectively thrown away £150 million that would have been paid out if the phones had been recycled."

The hazardous components found in mobile handsets, especially lead, cadmium and mercury present in the batteries, pose serious hazards to the environment if discarded in landfill sites, but if recycled, they can be put to good use.

moneysupermarket.com's second annual National Recycle Your Phone Week runs from Monday 26th to Friday 30th October 2009 in partnership with love2recycle.com who will pay an average of £29 for one phone, and up to £150 depending on the handset. Anyone wanting to support National Recycle Your Phone Week can follow moneysupermarket.com's profile on twitter twitter.com/recyclemobile, those who opt to follow the profile will be in with a chance of winning a handset of their choice over the course of the week.

Parker continues: "Our first National Recycle Your Phone Week was a great success and moneysupermarket.com in partnership with love2recycle.com has paid out almost £1,000,000 and saved tens of thousands of phones from landfill in just one year. We hope this year's awareness week will continue to encourage people to recycle old phones - for the benefit of the environment as well as gaining a bit of extra cash."

To recycle your old handsets visit moneysupermarket.love2recycle.com