Calling all residents with unwanted mobile phones

Published on 16 December 2016

Tis the season for giving, and thanks to a newly launched Australian initiative you can give to someone in need simply by correctly disposing of any old and unwanted mobile phones.

“Mobile for a Meal” was officially launched around Australia this week, with the Rockhampton Region among the list of participating communities.

The campaign is encouraging one and all to correctly dispose of any old mobile phones. For every phone collected, mobile recycling company Mobile Muster will donate the value of a meal to OzHarvest – Australia’s leading food rescue organisation.

Rockhampton Regional Council is supporting the initiative.

Chair of Council’s Waste Committee Cr Neil Fisher said it’s one that takes waste reduction to a whole new level. 

“If you’ve been meaning to get rid of your old or unwanted mobile phones, now is the perfect time to do so,” Cr Fisher said.

“This initiative is fantastic and one we should all try and get behind– not only does it aim to reduce the amount of waste going to our landfills, but it means for every single mobile recycled, someone in need receives a meal and for the holiday season especially, that’s a very heart-warming thing.”

Cr Fisher said mobile phones and other electronic items often end up in landfill because they are thrown in the general waste bins rather than being taken to the Region’s drop off points.

“Our local area has specific collection points throughout the Region for mobile phones. From here the items are collected and transported to Mobile Muster. Then, over 95% of the electronic waste materials collected are used to make new products.

“If they instead end up in landfill, that’s a lot of valuable resources going to waste,” Cr Fisher said.

The “Mobile for a Meal” initiative will run through until February 2017.

For details on your nearest mobile phone drop off point head to www.mobilemuster.com.au