Australians urged to recycle 22.87 million idle mobiles

MobileMuster has urged Australians to return old mobile phones for reuse and recycling after new research estimated 22.87 million devices are sitting unused in homes across the country.

The industry-run scheme warned the dormant stockpile is limiting the supply of phones that could be repaired or refurbished, and reducing the amount of material available for recovery through recycling streams.

MobileMuster is managed by the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association. It accepts phones and accessories through a national collection network and by post.

The call comes as consumers keep their handsets for longer and show growing interest in refurbished devices. A longer replacement cycle reduces the number of new phones sold each year, but can also leave more older devices stored at home instead of returned to the market or recycling channels.

Longer lifespans

Global data cited by MobileMuster puts the average smartphone upgrade cycle at around 3.5 years, up from five years ago. The same analysis found new smartphone sales fell 15% between 2021 and 2023, while used and refurbished phone sales rose 15%.

Repair options have also become more accessible in many markets. This can extend a device's life, but can also encourage people to keep old handsets as backups even when they are rarely used.

MobileMuster's research suggests almost every Australian household has at least one idle phone, with many storing several devices in drawers or boxes.

Louise Hyland, CEO of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association, said stored handsets are a missed resource for the circular economy.

"Australians expect companies to make products more responsibly and use more recycled materials, but a circular economy also relies on consumers reusing, repairing or recycling to give products a second life. By holding onto old mobile phones, we're holding on to a crucial part of that supply chain," Hyland said.

Consumer demand

Consumer sentiment on sustainability is strengthening, according to the global figures cited by MobileMuster. Around 85% of consumers surveyed rated sustainability as important when choosing a device, and about 70% said they would pay more for a phone they view as environmentally responsible.

The shift is influencing purchasing decisions, including interest in refurbished models and trade-in programmes. It is also increasing scrutiny of manufacturing inputs such as recycled metals and plastics.

MobileMuster argued that unused devices stored at home are part of the same material pipeline. Metals, glass and plastics inside old phones can be recovered, processed and returned to manufacturing supply chains.

"Those 22.87 million dormant devices represent a huge opportunity for reuse and for recovering valuable materials. Global Recycling Day is the perfect moment to finally clear them out," Hyland said.

Recovery rates

Phones returned through MobileMuster go through dismantling and recycling. The scheme said more than 95% of materials can typically be recovered, including metals, glass and plastics.

Product stewardship programmes such as MobileMuster connect consumers, retailers, logistics providers and recycling operators. They aim to simplify collection and improve recovery outcomes, including safe handling of components unsuitable for household waste streams.

The scheme also addressed concerns about personal data, describing them as a reason households keep broken or obsolete devices. It said it uses tamper-resistant drop-off bins, secure transport and data destruction during recycling.

"There's a gap between our intentions and our habits," Hyland said. "We're buying more sustainably, but then leaving old devices stranded in drawers - especially the ones that are no longer working. People can help protect the environment simply by digging out those old phones and recycling them."

Collection network

MobileMuster collection points include Telstra, Optus and Vodafone stores, as well as some Salvation Army, Harvey Norman and Retravision locations. The scheme also offers free postal returns using prepaid labels.

MobileMuster said the World Economic Forum has recognised the programme as a model for product stewardship and mobile phone recycling, which it said shows an industry-led approach can increase collection and recovery of valuable materials.

"Australians have already shown they'll keep phones longer and choose greener options. Now we need to finish the job by getting old devices out of our homes and back into the loop," Hyland said.