MobileMuster, the Australian Mobile Telecommunication Association’s official recycling program, is calling on local councils who have helped promote the program and collect mobile phones for recycling over the last year to nominate for the 2013 MobileMuster Local Government Awards.
Five Local Government Awards are on offer this year, including Best Promoter, the Working with Schools Award, the Top Collector Award Overall, the Top Collector Per Capita and the National Excellence Award.
The awards, established in 2007, acknowledge the great support from local governments in holding the industry to its promise—that mobile phone products don’t end up in landfill—but are instead recycled in a safe, secure and ethical way.
MobileMuster Manager Rose Read encouraged councils to nominate for the Best Promoter, Working with Schools Award and National Excellence awards, saying councils play a major role in educating residents about recycling mobile phones.
“In the 12 months to December 2012, local councils diverted over 2,600kg of mobile phones, batteries, chargers and accessories from landfill, an increase of 10 per cent on 2011.
“This included over 24,000 handsets and batteries as well as more than 1,300kg in accessories which helped avoid over 21 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
“However, with most homes still having at least two old mobiles sitting in drawers either broken or unused, there is a lot of potential e-waste that could end up in landfills if not recycled.”
Ms Read said there was a three-tiered partnership between MobileMuster and local councils, and that councils gave fantastic support for the recycling program.
“About 340 out of 600 councils participate in the program and host collection points.
“Councils make it accessible, free and easy for people to recycle their phones, batteries and handsets, and a lot of councils have been very proactive in promoting the program.
“Councils also work with an online education kit for schools, helping engage schools in activities around recycling.”
Small and large councils across Australia were encouraged to nominate for the award, including those who have incorporated the education program into their waste collection program; and those who have creatively engaged their local community.
The National Excellence award will recognise the council that ‘goes the next step’ in integrating the whole program and has collected high volumes of phones, batteries and handsets.
Nominations close on Friday the 7th of June 2013, and can be made at www.mobilemuster.com.au or by calling 1300 730 070.
Winning councils will be announced at the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) National General Assembly in Canberra in June.
