MobileMuster

Mobile phone recycling - it's easy!

The MobileMuster recycling program is managed by the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association. It keeps mobile phone products out of landfill and recycles them in a safe, secure and ethical way.

Australians are among the highest users of technology. Australians produce around 25kg of electronic waste each year.

By recycling mobiles, consumers and businesses can:

  • reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  • save water and energy
  • conserve natural resources
  • prevent potentially hazardous materials from entering the environment.

The MobileMuster commitment

The mobile phone industry is committed to reducing the impact their products can have on the health of the environment and humans. They do this by:

  • improving how efficiently resources are used
  • ensuring collected mobile phones are recycled to the highest standards
  • minimising waste across product life cycles
  • better management of manufacture and disposal.

MobileMuster gained government accreditation in 2014.

The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) administers the arrangement on behalf of the mobile phone industry.

Members

Members of the arrangement include:

  • all major handset manufacturers (Alcatel, Apple, HMD Global, HTC, Huawei, Google, Motorola, Oppo, Samsung, Vigo Mobile Australia and ZTE)
  • all network carriers (Optus, Telstra and TPG Telecom)
  • accessory manufacturer and distributor, Cellnet Australia.

How it works

Members voluntarily fund the promotion, collection and recycling of mobile phones, their batteries, chargers, accessories, mobile modems and smart watches.

Recycling

MobileMuster delivers a free mobile recycling service. They work with workplaces, retailers, local councils and schools to make recycling easy and accessible.

All brands of mobile phones and accessories are accepted.

Everything collected by MobileMuster is recycled for recovery and reuse. Nothing is resold and any data left on mobiles is destroyed in the recycling process.

MobileMuster has over 3,500 public drop off points across the country. There is also a free post back option. This makes it easy for users to recycle.

Since 1998, the program has:

  • collected and recycled over 15 million handsets and batteries
  • achieved a 98% recovery rate
  • saved almost 1,600 tonnes of mobiles and accessories from landfill.

Promoting phone recycling

Each year, MobileMuster runs a major awareness campaign to get more Australians recycling.

The 2020 Use It or Recycle It campaign asked Australians to think about what they are doing with their old mobile phones encouraging them to either:

  • reuse their phone if they still worked
  • recycle their phone with MobileMuster when it reached the end of their useful life.

MobileMuster also runs campaigns to break down the barriers to recycling. One campaign targets people concerned with the data on their mobile phones. It helps people get their devices ready for recycling.

Educating in schools

MobileMuster supports an education program for school students, teachers, educators, and environmental organisations.

Their education program:

  • delivers practical curriculum material and engaging learning resources
  • allows students to look at the impact of mobile technology
  • encourages schools to take action for a sustainable future.

How industries can take part

Take action to reduce the impact your products have on the environment and people’s health and safety.

You can form your own voluntary product stewardship arrangement.

To promote the credibility of your voluntary arrangement, apply to become accredited by the Australian Government.

Contact MobileMuster

Mr Spyro Kalos
Manager, MobileMuster
Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association Ltd
Phone: 02 8920 3555
Email: spyro.kalos@amta.org.au
Website: www.mobilemuster.com.au

Annual reports

Under the Product Stewardship Act 2011, accredited voluntary product stewardship arrangements are required to provide audited annual reports for the Department to publish. The following reports are published in the form provided by the arrangement administrators. They outline governance initiatives, performance and achievements during the financial year.

2019-20

MobileMuster - annual report 2020 (PDF - 2.4 MB)

2018-19

MobileMuster - annual report 2019 (PDF - 17.35 MB)

2017-18

MobileMuster - annual report 2018 (PDF - 1.87 MB)
MobileMuster - annual report 2018 Appendix (PDF - 391.92 KB)

2016-17

MobileMuster - annual report 2016-17 (PDF - 4.47 MB)
MobileMuster - annual report 2016-17 Appendix (PDF - 862.74 KB)

Read more

Contact us