The sustainable actions of thousands of Australians will lead to the planting of over 100,000 native trees across the country this year, following MobileMuster and Landcare Australia’s ‘Old Phones, More Trees’ campaign.

MobileMuster, the official recycling program of the mobile phone industry, ran the ‘Old Phones, More Trees’ campaign with Landcare Australia in May 2008, pledging to plant a native tree for every mobile phone handset handed in for recycling.

Rose Read, Manager of Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association’s (AMTA) national recycling program, MobileMuster, said the campaign was a great success in 2008, collecting just over 100,000 handsets for recycling, 25,000 more handsets than last year.

“As a result, MobileMuster will have funded local Landcare groups across Australia to plant a total of 175,000 trees in the past two years.

“This means by 2010 Australians who have recycled their mobile phones as part of the Old Phones More Trees campaign will have helped plant enough trees to absorb the equivalent of 70,000 tons of carbon emissions or taking 10,000 cars off the road for one year,” added Ms Read.

Thirteen locations across Australia have been selected by Landcare Australia for the next round of tree planting.

“Sites include Sisters Creek in Tasmania; Swan Reach in South Australia; Holbrook in New South Wales; Dandaragan in Western Australia; McMinns Lagoon and Rapid Creek in the Northern Territory; Holt, Campbell, Kambah, Molonglo Catchment and Ginninderra Creek in the Australian Capital Territory; Brisbane in Queensland and Moyne Shire in Victoria.

“This is a real win-win for our planet. Not only have we prevented more than 100,000 mobile phones from ending up in landfill, but we will also be helping to restore and protect local environments across the country”, said Ms Read

Brian Scarsbrick, CEO Landcare Australia says the campaign will have a huge impact across Australia.

“Planting of native trees will deliver a multitude of environmental benefits including erosion prevention, riparian zone management, improve biodiversity, improve soil and water outcomes, enhance current revegetation and increase the conservation value of the area, amongst others.

“The ’Old Phones, More Trees’ campaign is a great example of how many people participating in 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,” concluded Mr Scarsbrick.

People can 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 from www.mobilemuster.com.au

To find your nearest MobileMuster drop off point or to download a free mailing label go to www.mobilemuster.com.au or call 1300 730 070.