Ian Carruthers, First Assistant Secretary, Department of Climate Change, this week recognised the efforts of over 300 local councils across Australia in tackling mobile phone e-waste at the MobileMuster Local Government Awards, presented during the National General Assembly for Local Government in Canberra.

MobileMuster is the official, not-for-profit, recycling program of the mobile phone industry. It initiated the Local Government Awards in 2007 to recognise the outstanding efforts by local councils in promoting and collecting mobile phones, batteries and accessories for recycling. MobileMuster is the only industry-operated e-waste recycling service.

“The role of local councils in addressing the issue of mobile phone e-waste in Australia is critical. Over the past 12 months, local councils have helped MobileMuster to collect and recycle over 3,274 kilograms of mobile phones and accessories, including 24,000 handsets and batteries,” says Rose Read, manager recycling, MobileMuster.

This week’s ceremony was held at the National Convention Centre, where Mr Carruthers recognised the following councils for their outstanding achievements:

• Hunter Resource Recovery (NSW) representing Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Newcastle, Port Stephens and Cessnock City Councils, for ‘National Excellence’

• Brisbane City Council (QLD) as the ‘Top Collector’ over the past 12 months

• Shire of Trayning (WA) as the ‘Top Collector Per Capita’ over the past 12 months

• Alice Springs Town Council (NT) as the ‘Best Promoter’ of a mobile phone recycling initiative

• Hills Shire Council (NSW) for their ‘Working with Schools‘ initiative

“Hunter Resource Recovery was named as this year’s ‘National Excellence Award’ winner in recognition of the group’s innovative work to engage local communities in recycling mobiles phones together with other e-waste and reusable items through their Lifecycle kerbside collections and E-waste drop off days,” says Ms Read.

Ms Read was particularly impressed by the Shire of Trayning’s efforts this year. The Shire was named as this year’s ‘Top Collector Per Capita’ with its 400 plus population handing in 15 kilograms of phones and accessories for recycling.

“If every town and city in Australia were to make the same effort as the Trayning Shire, MobileMuster would have collected over 6 million handsets and batteries over the last 12 months. Over seven times the current annual collection rate,” says Ms Read.

Since the inception of MobileMuster in 1999, over 667 tonnes of mobile phones and accessories, including 4.48 million handsets, have been diverted from landfill. Local councils have played a significant role in the success of the program.

According to Ms Read, Local Government Awards entries and participation in the program has grown each year, as more communities become conscious of the role they can play in reducing e-waste.

“In Australia, there are an estimated 16 million old mobiles stored away in homes that are no longer in use and could be recycled. By offering, and promoting a free e-waste recycling program, such as MobileMuster, councils are helping to ensure that potentially harmful substances do not go into landfill and precious metals and materials are recovered and reused.

“Councils play an integral role in helping to educate local communities about mobile phone recycling and in providing a free service to manage this waste effectively,” continues Ms Read.

Over 90 per cent of a mobile phone and its accessories can be recycled to make new products including; jewellery, plastic fence posts and new batteries.

The announcement of this year’s award winners comes as the Total Environment Centre revealed new figures showing that over 17 million televisions, computers and other electronic products are being thrown into landfill each year.

The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association is committed to the development of a long term, integrated e-waste collection service that is funded by industry, accepts all types of electronic waste and is free to all Australians.

To help develop and trial integrated e-waste collections, MobileMuster will be providing a limited number of E-waste Collection Grants to Local Councils of up to $5,000.

In addition MobileMuster will pay each local council or their e-waste collection service provider $2.20 per kilogram of mobile phone components collected through this new method.

“By providing these funds we will be helping councils promote and streamline e-waste collection services in partnership with the electronics industry, the first step towards integrated residential e-waste collections” concluded Ms Read.

To find out how your local council can get involved visit www.mobilemuster.com.au or call 1300 730 070.