We aim to prevent used mobile handsets from polluting the environment. Under our first-of-its-kind campaign to recycle mobile phones, customers have handed in more than 81 tons (81,660 kg) of recyclable waste since 2004. We ensure that used devices returned to shops are properly disassembled and recycled.
Quantity of handsets collected and recycled by Telenor per year:
- 2004 - 98 kg
- 2005 - 719 kg
- 2006 - 28 200 kg
- 2007 - 32 100 kg
- 2008 – 850 kg
- 2009 – 8192 kg
Mobile telephones are made out of 95% recyclable materials which can be easily extracted and processed. Their hazardous waste content can all be sorted and reused for the manufacturing of new products.
The materials most poisonous to the environment are the lead in old phones’ printed circuits and the mercury used in LCD displays. Microphones and other small components may contain other dangerous heavy metals, which, if not properly recycled, can leak into the environment and induce harmful processes.
