The recycling partnership between MobileMuster, the mobile telecommunication industry’s official recycling program, and Landcare Australia has resulted in a pledge to plant 200,000 trees.

Rose Read, Manager of Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association’s (AMTA) national recycling program, MobileMuster, said the campaign was an enormous success.

MobileMuster ran its third “Old Phones, More Trees” campaign with Landcare Australia from 1 May 2009 to World Environment Day on June 5. For every kilogram of mobile phone components handed in for recycling, MobileMuster and Landcare Australia pledged to plant a native tree in Australia.

“This result also means that MobileMuster will have funded local Landcare groups across Australia to plant a total of 200,000 trees since the campaign started in 2007,” said Ms Read.

“This is great news because these old mobiles are no longer stashed away in cupboards and drawers going to waste. Instead they will be made into new products such as jewellery, plastic fence posts and stainless steel saucepans as MobileMuster recovers over 90% of the metals and plastics found in mobile phones.”

Two locations have been selected by Landcare Australia for this year’s round of tree planting. The Koaladoors Project in Warrnambool, Victoria, will receive funding for 15,000 trees to re-establish wildlife corridors in the Framingham Forest which was affected by severe bush fires in January 2006. The new trees will link remnant bush land and provide easy escape routes for animals such as koalas during bush fires.

The Cumberland Woodland Revegetation project being carried out by Penrith City Council Bushcare Groups, Western Sydney, New South Wales, will receive funding for 10,000 trees to improve biodiversity, enhance current revegetation and increase the conservation value of the area.

Brian Scarsbrick, CEO of Landcare Australia, says the campaign has made a huge impact across Australia. “Planting of native trees will deliver a multitude of environmental benefits including erosion prevention, riparian zone management, improved biodiversity, improved soil and water outcomes, enhancement of current revegetation and the increased conservation value of the area, amongst others,” he said.

“The ‘Old Phones, More Trees’ campaign is a great example of how many people taking small actions, such as recycling old mobile phones, can lead to a large environmental impact including reducing waste and storing carbon through revegetation. All of these actions are vital in tackling the big issue of climate change."

MobileMuster is a year-round free recycling program where people can always hand in their old mobile phones, batteries, accessories and chargers for recycling at any one of MobileMuster’s 3,500 drop-off points nationally. Alternatively they can pick up a free recycling satchel from participating Australia Post outlets or downloading a free reply paid label