Reuse and recycling: Performance 2007/08
We said:
We would collect a further million handsets for reuse and recycling by March 2008.
We would pilot a recycling scheme in Kenya, as part of our commitment to increase capacity for recycling in emerging economies.
We would send for reuse and recycling 95% of network equipment waste during the year to March 2008.
We have:
Collected 1.3 million handsets for reuse and recycling
We exceeded our target to collect a further million handsets in 2007/08, increasing the total collected by 29% from the previous year. Around 148,000 of the phones collected were from corporate customers, a tenfold increase from 2006/07. The proportion of handsets collected that are reused has been decreasing over the last three years due to more competitive second-hand markets and the introduction of lower-cost handsets, especially in emerging markets.
Continued to encourage customers to recycle old phones
Many of our local operating companies ran consumer campaigns to raise awareness of recycling programmes in 2007/08 and offered incentives to return phones such as free airtime or donations to charity. Vodafone UK encouraged customers to keep their old phones for longer, rather than upgrading every time they renew their contract. See encouraging handset recycling.
Ran a pilot recycling scheme in Kenya
In 2007/08, we partnered with development NGO Practical Action on a pilot recycling scheme in Kenya. Together we collected 350kg of waste phones and parts from 64 mobile repair shops over a three-month period. On average, we collected half a kilogramme of waste per week from each repairer.
The pilot came out of a study we commissioned from sustainable development charity Forum for the Future in 2006/07 to identify ways to increase mobile phone recycling in developing countries. We will conduct a similar study in a major city in India in 2008/09. See Recycling mobile phones in developing countries.
Reused or recycled 97% of network equipment waste
We produced 12,096 tonnes of waste network equipment in 2007/08. Of this, 97% was sent for reuse or recycling, exceeding our continuing target of 95%. This included 2,805 tonnes of non-hazardous waste (such as radio equipment, metal and cables) and 9,290 tonnes of hazardous waste (mostly lead acid batteries). All our local operating companies have systems in place for recycling network equipment.
Conducted environmental audits of local recycling suppliers in 10 of our operating companies
Ten local operating companies assessed their local recycling suppliers in 2007/08. These audits focused specifically on the suppliers' environmental credentials in addition to site evaluations as part of our general supply-chain management.
We will:
- Collect a further 1.5 million handsets by March 2009
- Send for reuse and recycling 95% of network equipment waste during 2008/09
- Assess mobile phone collection, reuse, recycling and disposal in a major Indian city by March 2009.
