Stop hoarding your phones, Brits urged - here's how to recycle them
Around 5.3 billion phones will drop out of use this year, experts say, adding to the swarms already stashed in drawers and cupboards in homes around the world.
Some 30% of the mobile phones scattered around Europe are no longer used, most hoarded for months on end in case they will be used again, before eventually being disposed of, the international waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) forum says.
How big is the electrical and phone waste problem?
Mobile phones contain precious materials including gold, silver, palladium and other recyclable components, which, if not recycled from old products, have to be mined.
But the majority disappear into drawers, cupboards or garages, or end up in landfill or waster incinerators, according to WEEE analysis.
How do I recycle my phone?
You can find the nearest place to recycle your phone on the Recycle Now website, run by waste charity WRAP.
Cawleys provide a range of fully compliant reuse and recycling options for redundant or damaged WEEE equipment. We also offer confidential shredding of sensitive or branded material.
Some local authorities accept small electricals with household recycling. Check their website to find out if they take them and if there are any special instructions, such as placing them in a separate bag.