Local councils awarded for e-waste recycling efforts

MobileMuster, the mobile phone industry’s product stewardship program, has recognised the efforts of local councils that have dramatically increased their collections and helped make recycling more accessible to the community.

MobileMuster’s Local Government Awards were introduced in 2007 to award local councils for promoting and collecting mobile phone components for recycling. Congratulated by Minister for Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg, eight councils from across Australia were recognised as Australia’s top recyclers.

The following councils took out top honours in the awards:

• National Top Collector per Capita — District Council of Orroroo-Carrieton (SA)
• NSW Top Collector — Hornsby Shire Council
• Territory Top Collector — Alice Springs Town Council
• QLD Top Collector — Brisbane City Council
• WA Top Collector — City of Stirling
• SA Top Collector  — City of Onkaparinga
• TAS Top Collector — Burnie City Council
• VIC Top Collector — Moonee Valley City Council

“Whilst council collections have been steadily growing in the last couple of years, it’s great to see an even higher lift this year with councils helping inform and educate their residents about recycling,” said MobileMuster Recycling Manager Spyro Kalos.

“In the last year councils have increased their collections by a huge 25% and recycled over 4.5 tonnes of mobiles phone and components through the program.

“Over the last decade local government partners have collected 35 tonnes of mobiles phone components for recycling including approximately 420,000 handsets and batteries.

“However, with an estimated 23 million old mobile phones sitting in drawers waiting to be recycled, including five million which are broken and no longer working, MobileMuster will continue to work with councils to encourage residents to recycle responsibly.”