Agenda item

This report provides preliminary exploratory information for a domestic kerbside mobile phone recycling collection service.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste presented the report and the purpose of the report was to provide preliminary exploratory information for a domestic kerbside mobile phone recycling collection service.

Mobile phones typically would last around two years in today’s market, with the latest models relegating older devices into cupboards, drawers or being discarded into the waste stream. When electrical items with batteries are discarded into the waste stream, it can increase the risk of waste combusting and there have been increasing occurrences of this happening across the country in recent years.

Currently, Local Authorities were not required to collect mobile phones from households. DEFRA consultation (Environment Act 2021) on the separate collection of recyclables did not propose to introduce this item. Furthermore, under the WEEE Regulations, both producers and retailers of mobile phones had a legal obligation to offer a take back service on mobile phones.

South Kesteven District Council were unaware of other authorities who participated in this type of recycling and the introduction of a scheme would invariably have operational and financial implications, such as,

·       Possible disposal barriers

·       Theft of the mobile phones prior to collection (data not being wiped on the mobile phone)

·       Lack of demand from residents as they have alternatives methods of disposal.

·       Customisation of the refuse freighters.

·       Increased collections by staff

A query was raised on the collection of batteries and when the scheme was due to commence.

The Lead Officer had put in various requests for permissions and the Council were working with Government. It was hoped that the scheme would be in place by June 2024, assuming safety and collection certificates were completed.

Concern was raised over the safety of waste operatives when collecting the phones due to the value of them.

North-West Leicestershire District Council collected batteries and mobile phones together and had been since 2019. They had collected 15 tonnes of batteries and 100kg of mobile phones, which had been recycled. It had costed them around £400 to set up the service.

Members discussed more profitable ways in which people could recycle their phones.

Concern was raised on a GDPR issue when disposing of an old phone.

One Member suggested that a scheme on the safe disposal and recycling of vape devices be explored.

The Government were exploring new legislation to tackle how vapes were to be displayed, packaged, coloured in efforts to reduce their appeal to young adults.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste would seek legal advice of the possibility of batteries and vapes being collected together.

The Committee were reassured that permissions were being explored for the collection of batteries and the scheme was legally compliant with legislation.

ACTION: The Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste to provide a timeframe in which permissions for battery collection would be completed.

That the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

1.    Note the contents of the report and consider whether there is a valid business case to introduce a kerbside mobile phone recycling collection service.

2.    For the agenda item to be brought back to the Committee at a future meeting.