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Updated Tuesday, April 1, 2008 0:00 am TWN, The China Post news staff



	Taiwan Mobile Co. displays the valuable materials retrieved in various recycling phases from an unwanted handset. The telecom service giant welcomes consumers to turn in unused handsets at its 506 Myphone stores around Taiwan to help clean up the island and tackle global warming. (CNA) Enlarge Photo

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Taiwan Mobile to help clean up island with recycling plan

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A leading telecommunications service firm has set up a recycling initiative for mobile phone users to turn in their unwanted handsets, in a move to recollect valuable resources and tackle environmental pollution and global warming.

Mobile phones have become one of the most popular electronic gadgets in Taiwan society. Around 7 million handsets were sold in Taiwan last year.

Although the Cabinet-level Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has adopted a plan to urge consumers to recycle their unused handsets, it managed to collect just 2.34 million sets between April 2006 and February of this year.

Aspiring to help improve Taiwan’s environment, local telecom service giant Taiwan Mobile Co. has set up collection boxes at its 506 Myphone stores around Taiwan and offshore islands to encourage consumers to recycle handsets and accessories like batteries and rechargers.

People who turn in the handsets and batteries will be given a memento — a solar energy flashlight — as reward.

Harvey Hsiao-wei Chang, president of Taiwan Mobile, said the recycling campaign is part of the company’s efforts to contribute to Taiwan, as a corporate citizen.

Chang suggested that consumers delete data in their handsets before turning them in.

Other Taiwan Mobile executives said most environmentally aware consumers still have their unused handsets at home, gathering dust, because they generally do not know how to dispose of them.

They welcome handset owners to join the recycling campaign as early as possible, because only a limited amount of the gifts will be offered in the initial stage.

According to research in Japan, out of every 66,000 handsets, one kilogram of gold can be extracted.

One kg of silver can be retrieved from 97,000 handsets.

Other reusable resources that can be separated from the handsets include copper, other metal powders, fiberglass, and plastic.

One American study found that the recycling of 10,000 mobile phones will yield enough electricity for 19 households for one full year.

At the same time, recycling will reduce global warming effects equivalent to the emissions given off by 14 sedans in one year.

Additional benefits include public health benefits from the elimination of toxic materials and substances that are released into the air and earth from lead, mercury, plastic materials, and other chemicals.

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