In general consumers need more of an incentive to recycle their mobile phones than just feeling good because they are being environmentally responsible and helping to avoid damaging the planet.
Mobile phone recycling companies have found their niche in the market because they recognise this fact and have found that the best way to increase recycling is to offer a competitve price for handsets, combined with a quick, easy and secure recycling process. Higher values are offered for the most recent models because these are much easier to distribute to overseas markets. Everyone wins because the consumer gets a good price for their phone and buyers in developing countries receive a steady supply of recent models.
However, the mobile phone recycling market has become increasingly complex and companies have to contend with legislation, central government direction and frequent exchange rate changes affecting phone values and margins.
Recycling is set to assume an increasingly important role in the mobile phone industry and recycling companies are expected to develop much closer relationships with operators and retailers, which will move them from being somewhat peripheral players to an integral part of the consumer’s experience. This is likely to result in maximising values paid to consumers for old phones and a higher proportion of phones going to the developing world for reuse.