I bet you didn't know: How phones are recycled

The turnover of mobile phones have increased dramatically over the recent years. It's become a norm of society to upgrade their (smart) phones every 2- 3 years with the release of a new generation of smart phone. So what do people do with their old smart phones? They trade it in and the greener mobile users will put them up for recycling.

Presently, Australia has a national recycling program that goes by the name MobileMuster. For any curious minds, below are the 6 steps of recycling taken by MobileMuster.

Step 1: Sorting
The phones are dismantled and sorted into these different components

• batteries
• printed circuit boards
• handsets
• chargers
• accessories
• plastics
• metals
• paper/cardboard packaging

Step 2: Batteries
The batteries are then further sorted into their chemical types.

• Lithium ion and nickel metal hydride batteries are shipped to TES-AMM in Singapore where they're processed for cobalt, lithium and nickel
• Nickel cadmium batteries are shipped to KOBAR Ltd in South Korea where they are proccessed for nickel (to make stainless steel), cadmium (to make new batteries) and copper.

Step 3: Circuits
Circuit boards are stored and then shipped to TES-AMM in Singapore where they are processed for precious metals including gold, silver copper and lead.

Step 4: Casings
Any handset casings that are made of pure plastic are then sent to either one of these local plastics manufacturers:

• Australian Composite Technology, who shreds and uses the plastic to produce composite plastic fence posts  
• Close The Loop/ EWood who shreds and uses the plastics to make plastic wood planks for garden beds/furniture

Step 5: Accessories and Mixed Plastics
The copper wiring is sent to local metal recyclers for recovery. Other accessories and mixed plastics are processed by TES-AMM in Singapore. There they are shredded and the plastics are separated from the ferrous and non-ferrous metals for re-use. The plastics are then used to make shipping pallets and the metals are sold on to the manufacturers.

Step 6: Packaging
The packaging is separated into plastic and paper and sent to local recyclers for further processing.

And there you have it! At least now you know where the bits and pieces of your phone goes to and what they can be recycled into. So if you have a few extra spare phones lying around, consider sending it to MobileMuster!

- Cynthia 

Source: MobileMuster