Top five councils for e-waste recycling awarded

MobileMuster, the not-for-profit recycling program of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association, has announced the winners of its 2014 Local Government Recycling Awards.

Presented at the National General Assembly of Local Government, each of the five councils received their award for their recycling programs that keep old mobiles out of landfill:

• Top Collector Overall: Brisbane City Council, Qld
• Top Collector Per Capita: Hay Shire Council, NSW
• Best Promoter: City of Mitcham, SA
• Working with Schools: City of Ryde, NSW
• National Excellence: City of Sydney, NSW

Rose Read, recycling manager, MobileMuster said council support was integral to the success of MobileMuster’s national recycling program.

“In the past 12 months, 349 councils that work in partnership with our recycling program collected nearly 3000 kg of old mobile phones and their accessories - a year-on-year increase of 25%,” she said. “Without local council support as both a collection facility and as an educator to residents on the importance of e-waste recycling, MobileMuster wouldn’t be the successful recycling program it is today.

“Recycling through the program last year replaced the need to mine over 2270 tonnes of precious metals, and over 690 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in greenhouse gases will be avoided, which is the same as taking over 190 cars permanently off the road or planting 4240 trees. Our council partners play an important part in this impact.”

To support each council, MobileMuster supplies collection facilities such as recycling boxes, wheelie bins and promotional materials. Each is also supported with community education programs, public relations and social media campaigns on the importance of mobile phone e-waste recycling.

“We proudly recognise the initiatives each of these councils has undertaken in their local area to boost recycling rates and educate their residents on the importance of e-waste management,” Read said.