The Wire

Approximately 94% of Australians own at least one. Such is its importance that a recent survey conducted by the Australian National University revealed that many respondents believed that it would be “unimaginable” to organize their daily lives without a mobile phone. However mobile phones have an average lifespan of just 18 months so what happens to all the throw-aways? The conservation group, The Total Environment Centre (TEC) says not enough is being done to recycle old phones. The Centre says toxic components such as lead, mercury and arsenic are ending up in landfill.