The frequency of mobile phone replacement for Chinese consumers is 8-12 months, which means nearly 80 million mobile phones are abandoned every year, as Guangzhou-based news outlet xkb.com.cn reported on Friday.
Without proper dismantling and disposal processes, a large number of hazardous substances in waste mobile phones are severely affecting the environment.
Across the world, only 9%-10% of discarded mobile phones would be sent to recycling centers, while the recycling rate of discarded mobile phones in China is far below the world average. Many people in China would prefer to keep the outdated mobile phones for possible future use, rather than turn them in for little repayment.
Environmental experts say that the hazardous substances contained in heavy metals used for mobile phones, even little in amount, would contaminate soil and water if the used phones are randomly abandoned, for instance, get mixed in household garbage.
So far, there have not yet been any special treatment companies in China that can dismantle and dispose waste mobile phones without causing any environment pollution.
Since 2011, China has implemented the "Waste Electrical and Electronic Product Recycling Management Regulations," which cover management of discarded waste refrigerators and TV sets, but mobile phone recycling was not covered.
However, we may learn ways from other countries that might be applied to China.
In Australia, many people donate their outdated mobile phones to charities for resale.
In Japan, a rewarding scheme has been established to promote recycling rate of used mobile phones, while at the same time, the mobile phone recycling industry has also created roughly 15,000 jobs in the country.
