Should you be getting a new mobile phone…

5 September 2006

Cable & Wireless wants islanders to make sure they recycle their old phones and help both the environment and charity.

David Smith, Chief Executive of Cable & Wireless, commented:

“Aggressive competition in the telecoms market means we expect that lots of islanders will be getting a new mobile phone in the next few weeks! We want them to dispose of their old mobile phone responsibly.”

According to the States of Jersey Statistics Unit there are 99,800 people with a Jersey mobile phone SIM card (Household Survey 2005). Some mobiles contain precious metals including gold and silver, and also toxic substances such as cadmium and mercury. If they end up in a landfill site, these could leak into the soil and pollute the surrounding environment. At present it is estimated that fewer than 5% of unwanted handsets are recycled in the British Isles.

Islanders with a redundant mobile phone can hand them in at the Sure mobile shop once it opens on September 13th. Cable & Wireless will ensure that it is recycled and will donate all monies raised to Jersey Hospice Care.