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Naoko Tojo

Naoko Tojo

Senior lecturer

Naoko Tojo

The Management of Used Mobile Phones in the United Kingdom -- Is exporting for re-use a sufficient solution?

Author

  • Panate Manomaivibool
  • Naoko Tojo

Summary, in English

This study examines the management of used mobile phones in the United Kingdom between 2005 and 2008. It shows that the replacement cycle for mobile phones got shorter during the period due to heavy handset subsidies given by mobile network operators. The planned obsolescence presented a business opportunity for the exports of used phones to developing countries. However, the collection for re-use is not a sufficient end-of-life strategy for two reasons. The first is a somewhat dubious fate of re-used phones in developing countries, whether they would ultimately pollute the environment as a result of backyard recycling. Second, the material flow analysis shows that the hibernating stock of uncollected handsets had grew larger during the period. This aging stock of hibernating phones would not be fit for the second hand markets and the WEEE Regulation only had marginal impacts on the collection of these small devices.

Department/s

  • The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics

Publishing year

2010

Language

English

Publication/Series

Going Green CARE INNOVATION

Document type

Conference paper

Publisher

International CARE Electronics Office

Topic

  • Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Keywords

  • Mobile phone
  • Re-use
  • Recycling
  • Waste collection
  • E-waste
  • WEEE

Conference name

Going Green CARE INNOVATION 2010

Conference date

2010-11-08

Conference place

Schoenbrunn Palace Conference Centre, Vienna, Austria

Status

Published