A new independent mobile phone recycling price-comparison site is being launched to help the UK shake off its reputation as the worst recycler in Europe, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research.
Sellmyoldmobilephone.co.uk is being launched in time for Christmas, encouraging the nation to recycle its e-waste and help people to find the best deal for their unwanted mobile phones.
Almost a million mobile phones are upgraded in the UK every month* and with news of the release of the new Blackberry Bold 9780 and rumours of the Nokia N9, this figure is likely to increase over the festive season.
Statutory consumer group, Consumer Focus, reports that around 85 million mobile phones have been abandoned to landfill sites and
sellmyoldmobilephone.co.uk hopes to change this trend by offering customers the best deals for their old phones and encouraging people to help the environment.
The site compares prices from 23 leading mobile phone recycling companies including Cash4Phones, Fonebank, Mypay.co.uk and Envirofone and the company’s aim is to become the most comprehensive mobile phone selling site online in the UK. Visitors can look up their phones from a list of most leading brands, select the best deal, freepost their phone and then receive their cash.
The recycled phones are then stripped for useful metals and plastics and donated to charities. Many recycled mobile phones end up in India, Africa and China, providing people in rural areas with a vital communication link.
Prices are updated daily and unlike other price comparison sites, sellmyoldmobilephone.co.uk also features a historic tracking device, allowing consumers to monitor how much they would have received if they had traded in their phone in the past few weeks. Customers can make up to Ł180 for their old phones.
Sellmyoldmobilephone.co.uk has been set up by Edward Robertson Ltd, a web development company based in the North East of England.
Graham Miller, director of Edward Robertson, said: “We really want to change the UK’s poor recycling reputation and with Christmas coming up, people are sure to find a mobile phone under the tree. Instead of letting old mobile phones overcrowd landfill sites, damaging the environment, we are encouraging people to get the best deals on their phone whilst helping the environment.”
Edward Robertson has previously launched its online shopping directory shopsafe.co.uk, providing customers with a database of over 4,000 retailers and giving consumers peace of mind by only listing sites that are secure.
Edward Robertson Limited, 1 Bondgate, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 7JA. Tel: 01325 489.
*The Telegraph online (2010)
