First World Country Begins to Own the Problem of Old Mobile Phones.

With an announcement from Vodafone Germany we get a hint of a first world country taking some responsibility for the issues we dump upon the African continent. Alongside the Dutch firm Closing the Loop they intend to rescue old mobile phones from Africa to recycle them.

Good news for the ever mounting e-waste issue though the cynic amongst us may wonder if they are more interested in the gold within rather than the ewaste itself.

Here is the announcement appearing in The Star in late June 2022.

Vodafone Germany plans to recycle more than one million old mobile phones from Africa, the telecoms firm said on June 21.

The Dutch firm Closing the Loop will help in the endeavour to gather old phones primarily from Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon and transport them to Europe for recycling there.

The project is a good start for setting new standards for a circular economy, Andreas Laukenmann, head of the private customer division at Vodafone Germany said.

“Recycling isn’t enough. The life span must also be made longer,” he said.

Vodafone said it would not only collect electronic waste originating from Europe, but also phones used by people in Africa.

The campaign will be financed by the raw materials obtained in the process.

The project will share profits with partners on the ground including churches, community centres or repair shops.

https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2022/06/21/vodafone-germany-to-recycle-one-million-old-mobile-phones-from-africa

Mobile phones present a challenge the world over with not just Europe struggling to stem the tide of obsolescent technology.