Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

The Management of Used Mobile Phones in the United Kingdom -- Is exporting for re-use a sufficient solution?

Manomaivibool, Panate LU and Tojo, Naoko LU (2010) Going Green CARE INNOVATION 2010
Abstract
This study examines the management of used mobile phones in the United Kingdom between 2005 and 2008. It shows that the replacement cycle for mobile phones got shorter during the period due to heavy handset subsidies given by mobile network operators. The planned obsolescence presented a business opportunity for the exports of used phones to developing countries. However, the collection for re-use is not a sufficient end-of-life strategy for two reasons. The first is a somewhat dubious fate of re-used phones in developing countries, whether they would ultimately pollute the environment as a result of backyard recycling. Second, the material flow analysis shows that the hibernating stock of uncollected handsets had grew larger during the... (More)
This study examines the management of used mobile phones in the United Kingdom between 2005 and 2008. It shows that the replacement cycle for mobile phones got shorter during the period due to heavy handset subsidies given by mobile network operators. The planned obsolescence presented a business opportunity for the exports of used phones to developing countries. However, the collection for re-use is not a sufficient end-of-life strategy for two reasons. The first is a somewhat dubious fate of re-used phones in developing countries, whether they would ultimately pollute the environment as a result of backyard recycling. Second, the material flow analysis shows that the hibernating stock of uncollected handsets had grew larger during the period. This aging stock of hibernating phones would not be fit for the second hand markets and the WEEE Regulation only had marginal impacts on the collection of these small devices. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Mobile phone, Re-use, Recycling, Waste collection, E-waste, WEEE
host publication
Going Green CARE INNOVATION
pages
9 pages
publisher
International CARE Electronics Office
conference name
Going Green CARE INNOVATION 2010
conference location
Schoenbrunn Palace Conference Centre, Vienna, Austria
conference dates
2010-11-08
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c4e0d8a5-cdd0-4b22-b965-a8a0898fcd6e (old id 1731503)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 10:27:01
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:58:49
@inproceedings{c4e0d8a5-cdd0-4b22-b965-a8a0898fcd6e,
  abstract     = {{This study examines the management of used mobile phones in the United Kingdom between 2005 and 2008. It shows that the replacement cycle for mobile phones got shorter during the period due to heavy handset subsidies given by mobile network operators. The planned obsolescence presented a business opportunity for the exports of used phones to developing countries. However, the collection for re-use is not a sufficient end-of-life strategy for two reasons. The first is a somewhat dubious fate of re-used phones in developing countries, whether they would ultimately pollute the environment as a result of backyard recycling. Second, the material flow analysis shows that the hibernating stock of uncollected handsets had grew larger during the period. This aging stock of hibernating phones would not be fit for the second hand markets and the WEEE Regulation only had marginal impacts on the collection of these small devices.}},
  author       = {{Manomaivibool, Panate and Tojo, Naoko}},
  booktitle    = {{Going Green CARE INNOVATION}},
  keywords     = {{Mobile phone; Re-use; Recycling; Waste collection; E-waste; WEEE}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{International CARE Electronics Office}},
  title        = {{The Management of Used Mobile Phones in the United Kingdom -- Is exporting for re-use a sufficient solution?}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5541800/1731504.pdf}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}