More than 800 million people around the world

More than 800 million people around the world

currently use mobile phones and that figure is growing daily as consumers get bombarded by advertising campaigns exhorting them to upgrade to the latest, most fashionable model. As a result mobile phones become outdated and new models are introduced faster than the changes in the Melbourne weather.

In Australia only, it is estimated that there were 3.5 million new mobile phone sold in the last 12 months. Now with the introduction of 3G technology and coloured screens, more mobile phones are expected to be sold. The Australian bureau of statistics figures show in the year 2000, 61% of Australian households had mobile phones and this number has steadily risen to 12.8 million mobile phone connections at the end of 2003. The average Australian typically upgrades their phones every 18-24 months.

So if phones are getting upgraded so frequently, what happens to old unwanted phones? Old mobile phones just do not fade away, they are retired to drawers and shelves around the country. It is estimated that Australians are hoarding 10 million phones.

All of us as consumers, perceive value in our old electronic products. As there is usually no trade-in when you upgrade for a new model, our natural hoarding instinct tells us to keep the old phones, give them to relatives, or store them for emergency use. However history also shows that these phones eventually find their way into the rubbish bin and that's where the problem starts. Perhaps you have thrown one out yourself. We need an easy and effective means of disposing of our unwanted phones.