92% of Cell Phones are Discarded Improperly

Although the mobile industry has been trying hard to go green for the past few years, a recent study from ABI Research reveals that there is still a long way to go before the industry can count itself as "green". As a matter of fact, merely 8 percent of all unused cell phones are disposed of properly every year.

According to the market research company, when the useful lifespan is over, only about 6 percent of mobile handsets worldwide are refurbished, while about 2 percent are actually recycled. This implies most of cell phones (92 percent) that are replaced either end up in people’s desk drawers or crop up in landfill sites and release harmful toxins to pollute the Earth.

In order to extend the sustainability of their products, handset vendors have taken eco-friendly measures and green business practices. For instance, Apple has minimized their product packaging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during transportation. Major companies like Nokia and LG have launched their own recycling programs to take back scrap phones and accessories. There are also some environmental-friendly handsets made from recyclable materials available on the market, such as the Motorola Renew and the Samsung Reclaim.

Other than mobile device manufacturers, consumers should also take the initiative to join the "greening" act. Instead of just leaving your phone in your closet or throwing it away, it is better to drop it off at the recycling points offered by vendors or electronic stores. ABI also encourages consumers to buy refurbished cell phones. This is in fact the most ecologically sound way of handset disposal since the device continues to be used and will not go into the landfill.

With all these efforts underway, ABI expects the situation of improper disposal will improve over the next five years. It is estimated that the total percentage of ethnically discarded phones would rise from 8 percent in 2009 to 18 percent by 2014, with 14 percent of them refurbished and 4 percent recycled.

The projected figures look more acceptable, but are still far from enough. Thus, it is important for the mobile industry and consumers to continue to work together so as to minimize the harmful impact on the environment.

Tags: Cell Phone, Motorola Renew W233 Accessories, Samsung Reclaim (SPH-m560) Accessories, iPhone Accessories, MP3 / Apple Ipod Accessory, Nokia Accessories