Deleting your details from a discarded mobile phone can be surprisingly tricky, leaving consumers exposed to the risk of personal fraud, Choice magazine says.

Industry experts have warned that smartphones and multifunction devices that store information on the device can pose a security risk.

“Most phones have an internal memory where telephone numbers, appointments, reminders and personal data are stored,” say Kumar Radhakrishnan, Senior Vice-President, Sims and Recycling Solutions. “Even when SIM cards are removed, information remains on the phone that can be detrimental to the owner if the phone ends up in the wrong hands.”

The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) runs a free national recycling program, MobileMuster, which has recycled 3.5 million batteries and handsets in the 10 years the program has been running. The handsets are not refurbished or resold, and are held in secure collection units. The phones are dismantled and components sent offshore and recycled individually.

Chris Althaus, CEO of AMTA, says there are other ways to ensure personal information cannot be retrieved from discarded mobile phones. “Consumers can be confident that provided they follow the manufacturers’ advice on company websites and consult their phone manuals, they can wipe clean the memories of their phones and ensure that he data is unusable.”

Research conducted by market research organisation Ipsos found that 4% of mobile phones are disposed of in landfill. Of the recyclable components, metals from batteries are reused in household products such as saucepans, while plastics can be repurposed to produce recycled pallets or plastic fence posts, while paper packaging is recycled. Precious metals such as gold and silver from circuit boards are also extracted.