Abstract
Millions of used & end-of-life mobile phones are being generated in Korea each year. In order to more effectively recover and process electronic waste produced from consumers and to reduce its impact on the environment, Korea Ministry of Environment (Korea MOE) promulgated an extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulation for a number of electronic equipment (televisions, personal computers, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners). Mobile phones were included in the EPR program in 2005. Since collection and recycling of mobile phones has only recently started, the methods and infrastructure for collection and recycling processing for used and end-of-life mobile phones are not yet well-established and need to improve. This paper discusses current practices and management of used and end-of-life mobile phones in Korea, based on a survey of more than 1,000 consumers, review of the existing literature, site visits at mobile phone recycling facilities, and conversations with telecommunication companies and environmental regulatory authorities. successful collection schemes. The results show that approx. more than 15 millions of mobile phones are being annually replaced with new ones. The results of consumer survey showed an average of 28.8 months replacement period, which is typically higher than normal replacement period (18 months) in many developed countries. Economic incentives should be provided to remove used mobile phones from storage to increase recycling among consumers who have access to inexpensive storage. The recycling rates of cellular phones are found to be lower, when compared to other electronic waste stream. This results partly from lacks of an established collection system and unclear responsibility of between producers and telecommunication companies in the EPR. More collection points where consumers will find it convenient to dispose their mobile phones should be installed. The principal interest for metal recovery from used mobile phones is in the recovery of the metals of great value such as copper and cobalt. Government, consumers, telecommunications, recycling companies, and other stakeholders related to cellular phones should consider more collective actions that can be taken to promote successful collection schemes.
