If you’ve got old mobile phones stashed at home, there is a place in Tauranga to recycle them.

The most recent collection point added to Envirohub Bay of Plenty is Re:mobile, said community co-ordinator Cathy Donnelly.

Since April, Envirohub BOP’s 31B Glasgow St office has been able to take old mobile phones from the public to be recycled.

Donnelly said mobile phones are a significant component of electronic waste, and the fastest-growing waste stream globally.

“Improper disposal can lead to toxic substances like lead, mercury and cadmium leaching into the environment, contaminating soil, water and air.”

But the devices contain valuable metals such as gold, silver, copper and palladium. Recycling these devices allows for the recovery of these materials, Donnelly said.

“In tough economic times, regardless of environmental consequences, who wants to throw something away that has value?

“My teenage son’s recent phone cost more than I paid for my first car. So, who wouldn’t want that to still have value at the end of its life/purpose? And sharing that resource and money with a charity is a win-win surely.”

Envirohub Bay of Plenty now collects old mobile phones for recycling. Photo / Brydie Thompson

Re:mobile is a project in collaboration with Sustainable Coastlines, an organisation Donnelly said aligns well with Envirohub.

“Sustainable Coastlines is a charity that protects the moana [ocean] we all love by bringing people together to reduce plastic pollution and other litter.

“Their goal is to see 60% less litter on the coastlines of New Zealand by 2030.”

Donnelly said they intend to achieve this by empowering communities to take action for their local beach through coastal clean-up events, educational programmes, public awareness campaigns and litter data collection.

“Since Sustainable Coastlines partnered with Re:mobile in 2016, they have passed on the proceeds of donated mobile phones totalling more than $223,000.

“This money helps support the charity in their endeavours to educate around plastic waste in the oceans we all love.”

Envirohub BOP’s 31B Glasgow St office is open 10am-2pm Mondays-Thursday for mobile phone collections. Find out more at: envirohub.org.nz