A new report commissioned by recycling not-for-profit MobileMuster on moving home habits has found that Australians keep taking their old mobiles, batteries and chargers with them each time they move, rather than recycling them.

“The amount of old mobiles that Australians are moving with them each year is astounding,” said Rose Read, Recycling Manager for MobileMuster. “Six of out ten people say they found old mobiles, chargers, batteries, TVs, computers, printers and white goods lying around home last time they moved.

“By weight this includes at least 65 tonnes of plastics and 48 tonnes of copper in mobile phones that could be reused, not to mention the steel, precious metals and other elements found in mobiles and chargers that are fully recyclable ” said Read.

The MobileMuster report also found that old mobiles, chargers and batteries are one of the top three items (35%) not being used or needed anymore that Australians moved with them. The other top three items were old files, bills and paperwork (59%) and clothing (49%).

Nearly a third (29%) say their biggest concerns about moving were cleaning and packing-up, moving with items that are not needed or used anymore, and getting rid of unwanted items.

As to why people are moving items they no longer use, nearly a quarter (21%) said they thought it was easier to move with these items then get rid of them. Alarmingly one in ten (13%) Aussies said they would throw away their old electronic items and over a third (36%) of these respondents said they would throw these items into their bin.

“Australians love their technology, but they seem very reluctant, or don’t know how easy it is, to recycle their unused mobiles safely and securely with MobileMuster rather then moving them from house to house cluttering up their lives,” said Read.

This World Environment Day the mobile phone industry is calling on all those people who have just moved or planning to move to help keep old mobiles out of landfill by recycling their old mobiles and accessories with MobileMuster rather than moving with them or worse still throwing them in the bin.

“With over 4,000 conveniently located and free drop off points around Australia including Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, Virgin Mobile retail outlets, Officeworks, Battery World stores and many local councils, there is no excuse,” said Read.

“Alternatively, you can post them in to MobileMuster for free using a postage paid recycling satchel available from your local Australia Post outlet, just go to mobilemuster.com.au to find your nearest drop off point or Australia post outlet”.

MobileMuster is the official recycling program of the mobile phone industry in Australia. It is a not-for-profit program funded by Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, LG, HTC, Huawei, ZTE, Force Technology, Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Virgin Mobile.

The aim of the program is to keep old mobiles out of landfill and ensure they are recycled safely, securely and ethically. Nothing is resold and all data is destroyed. MobileMuster accepts and recycles all brands and types of mobile phones, batteries, chargers and accessories. It is a free service.