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Monday, 30th July 2007 (4230 views)

Gold from mobile phones is to be recycled as part of a new industry scheme, it has emerged.

Run by organisation Shields Environmental, the initiative is being implemented by the UK's five main phone operators, according to the Guardian.

Known as Fonebak, Orange, T-Mobile, Virgin, O2 and Vodafone are taking part in the scheme, which will see old mobile phones reused or recycled.

During the recycling process, gold, platinum, silver and copper are to be extracted and reused, the report indicates.

Metals from batteries, the disposal of which could damage the environment, are to be reused - the nickel within becoming items such as irons or saucepans.

Meanwhile, mixed plastics are to be transported to Sweden for incineration and used to heat the local village.

According to the newspaper, environment minister Michael Meacher expressed pleasure that the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive was being conformed to.

Agreed on February 13th 2003, the WEEE directive came into force in January 2007 in the UK.

 

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