Over 90% of the materials used in a mobile are recyclable, avoiding future greenhouse gas emissions, saving energy, protecting our environment and conserving scarce natural resources.
While mobile phones cannot be recycled through the yellow lidded bin, phones along with all batteries, chargers and other associated components can be returned to the following facilities to be recycled:
- Bathurst Regional Council Civic Centre
- Bathurst Regional Council Waste Management Centre
- MobileMuster participants.
- More information on the MobileMuster program, and its recycling rates, have been provided below.
MobileMuster is the official recycling program of the mobile phone industry in Australia. It is the only whole of industry and self funded electronic waste recycling program in the world, providing free collection and recycling services to consumers, retailers, businesses, schools and local councils. Bathurst Regional Council participates in the MobileMuster program and has collection boxes at both the cashiers counter of the Council Civic and at the Waste Management Centre.
All old mobile phones, batteries and accessories can all be recycled for FREE, at any time through the Bathurst Regional Council collection points at.
Did you know?
- Australians upgrade or exchange their mobile phones every 18 to 24 months.
- 80% of people choose to keep their old mobile phones, less than 2% throw them out and the number of people recycling mobile phones is increasing and currently stands at 12%.
- There is an estimated 25.5 million old and unwanted mobiles in households across Australia
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What happens to the mobile phones after I drop them off?
All mobiles collected will be sent to the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association's official recycler in Melbourne where they are dismantled, sorted and separated into circuit boards, batteries, handsets and accessories. These are then processed either locally or overseas for resource recovery. All recycling of mobile phone components is to the highest environmental standard.
2. How many phones have been collected?
Since the program started over 1,168 tonnes of mobile phone components have been collected and recycled. This includes 9.95 million handsets and batteries plus more than 580,000 kg of accessories as at 30 June 2015. Since the program started over 1, 168 tonnes of mobile phone components have been collected and recycled. This includes 9.95 million handsets and batteries plus more than 580,000 kg of accessories as at 30 June 2015.
3. Why is it important to recycle mobile phones?
On average, most people buy a new phone every 2 years, with most of material able to be recovered and recycled into new products such as stainless, steel, batteries and jewellery. Mobile phones are not biodegradable and contain small amounts of potentially harmful substances which if not managed properly can harm the environment.
4. Are the mobiles collected ever refurbished to be re-sold?
No, never. It's our promise that every phone we collect will be kept out of landfill and recycled. We don't repair phones for reuse or resale.
5. What if I have data left on my old phone?
We encourage you to remove all personal information from your mobile and SIM card before you recycle them. As all mobiles are dismantled and processed, any data left on the phone or SIM card will be destroyed.