The Federal Government has formally accredited MobileMuster, the mobile telecommunications industry’s official recycling scheme, as Australia’s first voluntary product stewardship scheme under the Product Stewardship Act 2011.
The accreditation gives a green tick to the industry’s recycling program MobileMuster, recognising both its achievements over the past 16 years and the mobile industry’s commitment to continue to keep old mobiles and accessories out of landfill and recycle them responsibly in the future.
The accreditation was announced by Federal Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt.
A statement dealing with the announcement, said the official accredited mobile telecommunications industry recycling program, MobileMuster, and its members have committed to increase available collection rates of mobile phones from 50 to 55 per cent and volumes from 87 tonnes to 127 tonnes per year over the next 5 years as well as increase consumer and industry engagement.
The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) manages MobileMuster on behalf of its members. The industry has invested over $36 million in the not-for-profit program, which is free to consumers. Since the program began over 8.8 million handsets and batteries have been recycled, plus 550,000 kilos of accessories, which equates to nearly 1100 tonnes of mobile phone and accessory e-waste.
“Our members and partners work tirelessly to ensure that the promotion, collection, transportation and recycling of old mobiles is done with transparency and accountability and MobileMuster has some of the highest rates of recovery in any recycling program across the world,” deputy chairman of AMTA, Hakan Eriksson, said.
AMTA recycling manager, Rose Read, said receiving the fovernment’s accreditation gave the program a green tick of approval and recognised that MobileMuster has adhered to the highest safety and ethical standards when recycling old mobiles and accessories.
“The announcement today is an honour for the mobile telecommunications industry’s product stewardship program. It recognises the leadership role MobileMuster has played over the past 16 years and our expertise in developing best practice, ethical recycling programs,” she said.
MobileMuster is an industry wide not-for-profit program offering free recycling for all mobile brands and accessories in Australia and has been supported from the outset by a strong partnership between device manufacturers and mobile network operators.
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