According to a recent study carried out by International Data Corp (IDC) it has been found that mobile recycling rates amongst mobile manufacturers is amazingly low with 10% being considered as good.

The results show that although a small number of old devices are being recycled mobile phone manufacturers are still a long way off being completely green.

In the study the market research company also looked at where the mobile industry stands on sustainability. In working out the results of the study IDM looked at different criteria including packaging, materials, energy, end-of-life program, and overall sustainability efforts. They also reviewed third party rating from environmental organisations like Greenpeace.

The top five mobile manufacturers in the study in terms of their sustainability policies and practices are Apple, LG, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson.

Recycle your old mobile phone here

Do you have an old mobile phone you want to recycle and are a resident of the Republic of Ireland? If the answer is yes why not use the following two UK mobile recyclers who allow Irish consumers to get the most money for their old mobile phones:

Get up to €246 at Money4urMobile Ireland

Part of Redeem PLC one of the market’s leading mobile recyclers with more than 10 years experience. They offer cash payments of up to €246 per old mobile handset you send in via either cheque or bank transfer.

Recycle your old mobile phone for cash at Money4urMobile Ireland here

Get up to €474 at Envirofone Ireland

One of the largest mobile recycling companies who have operated in both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland since 2006. Since launching they have paid out millions of Euros to their customers and recycled or re-used hundreds of thousands of mobile handsets. They will pay up to €474 per mobile phone you send in and payment is sent via Cheque, Paypal or gift vouchers.

Recycle your old mobile phone for cash at Envirofone Ireland here

The UK government has recently announced a new code of practice that will require mobile recycling companies to check whether a mobile handset has been stolen before reselling it.

Under the new code of practice, mobile recyclers will have to check the National Mobile Phone Register when they receive a mobile. The National Mobile Phone Register is connected to three databases which include a Police database of stolen phones, a reporting system called Immobilise and a database of blocked handsets. Companies will also have to record the date and time a phones is received, a brief description, the IMEI number, the name and address of the seller and the date when they checked the National databases.

Any mobile recyclers that don’t follow the new code of practice could face sanctions. Up to now around 20 UK mobile recycling companies have signed up which represents about 90% of the industry.

Its estimated that around 100,000 old mobiles phones with an average value of £50 each have been sent in for recycling in the past. According to the Police around 10,000 mobile handsets are stolen per month with 2/3’s of victims being teenagers aged thirteen to sixteen.