Unused Cell Phones to Be Collected from Homes This Year

A new service will be introduced this year that allows postal workers to collect unused cell phones directly from homes. This initiative aims to encourage the disposal of old phones that residents have been hesitant to discard due to concerns about personal data leaks and complicated disposal procedures.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced that in celebration of Resource Recycling Day on September 6, it will launch a month-long nationwide campaign called the 'National Waste Cell Phone Collection Movement' starting September 1. The campaign will expand collection routes for waste cell phones and enhance benefits for participants who donate their devices.

While waste cell phones are subject to a producer responsibility recycling system, many people tend to keep unused phones at home for extended periods. This is often due to fears of personal data breaches, uncertainty about how to dispose of them, or the cumbersome disposal process.

Throwing them away with regular trash poses risks as well. If waste cell phones are mixed with general waste, the lithium-ion batteries inside can cause fires during collection and processing.

The government will first expand participation in the existing 'Sharing Phone' donation program. Currently, the Ministry of Climate and the Circular Governance organization accept donations of waste cell phones through this program, providing donors with donation receipts and carbon-neutral points. Profits generated from recycling waste cell phones will be donated to the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation.

During the campaign, 3,000 citizens who donate their waste cell phones through the Sharing Phone program will be randomly selected to receive coffee coupons.

Collection points for waste cell phones will also be increased. Separate collection boxes will be installed at administrative welfare centers and schools that wish to participate in the campaign. Notably, administrative welfare centers will continue to operate these collection boxes even after the month-long campaign ends, expanding the ongoing collection system.

In areas without dedicated collection boxes for waste cell phones, small electronic waste collection boxes can be used. However, since the availability of collection boxes varies by administrative welfare center, individuals should check in advance whether a box is available.

Additionally, the Ministry of Climate plans to implement a 'Safe Collection Service' in collaboration with the Korea Post and Circular Governance by the end of this year.

Currently, donors must apply to donate through the Sharing Phone program and then send their waste cell phones to post offices or convenience stores at their own expense. With the new service, donors will be able to request a postal pickup during the donation application process.

Users will simply need to package their waste cell phones and leave them at their doorstep after completing the donation application. A postal worker will then visit to collect the items and transport them to designated recycling facilities.

The collected waste cell phones will not be discarded. Devices gathered through the Sharing Phone program or collection boxes will be sent to designated recycling facilities for resource recovery.

Recycling facilities will first remove batteries from waste cell phones to reduce fire risks. They will then process the phones through shredding and melting to recover valuable metals, which will be reused as recycled materials. Any personal data remaining on the phones will also be securely destroyed during this process.

Kim Go-eung, director of the Resource Recycling Bureau at the Ministry of Climate, stated, "Safely disposing of unused cell phones sitting in drawers is a small action that marks the beginning of resource recycling. We ask for the public's interest and participation in this campaign, which is being promoted in conjunction with Resource Recycling Day."