Naoko Tojo
Senior lecturer
The Management of Used Mobile Phones in the United Kingdom -- Is exporting for re-use a sufficient solution?
Author
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
Full text
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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