Over 50% of Taiwanese people have several unused mobile phones. But did you know? 100 iPhones can yield approximately 0.97 grams of gold, 7.5 grams of silver, and 710 grams of copper. Recycling 10,000 iPhones saves production energy equivalent to 140 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
While Taiwan's mobile phone recycling rate has increased annually to 12%, it still lags behind the international average of 15-20%. According to an EPA survey, reasons people are reluctant to recycle their phones include a lack of information about where to recycle, a lack of recycling incentives, and concerns about personal information being compromised.
The circular journey of mobile phones: disassembly, refinement, and reuse
Where do old cell phones go for recycling? Whether it's to a convenience store, a telecom operator, a mobile phone store, or a cleaning crew, the cell phone's recycling journey is about to begin. Li Zhiyi, Director of the Electronics, Electrical, and Information Products Management Group of the Environmental Protection Administration's Recycling Foundation, explained in an interview that manual disassembly and subsequent refining during the cell phone recycling process can generate unreusable waste, which must be handled by qualified operators. Reusable plastics and precious metals, however, will enter their respective recycling processes.
Taking iPhones as an example, 100 iPhones can yield approximately 0.97 grams of gold, 7.5 grams of silver, and 710 grams of copper. These precious metals can all be recycled. Recycling every 10,000 iPhones saves production energy equivalent to 140 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Li Zhiyi explained that while mobile phones are considered general waste, they contain hazardous materials and therefore must be handled by privately-owned "Class A" disposal facilities. Currently, there are three certified mobile phone disposal companies in Taiwan: Jialong, Jinyiding, and Huijiadian. For example, FamilyMart convenience stores will return mobile phones to their logistics warehouses for removal and disposal by approved facilities.
For example, at Jialong Technology, a company partnered with FamilyMart, workers first disassemble incoming old mobile phones into reusable plastic, iron, and aluminum. Motherboards and chips containing precious metals are then refined in the factory's refining system. Li Zhiyi added that not all processors have the necessary processes, so many motherboards are sent to large metal smelting and processing facilities in Japan.
What to do about your security? There are ways to safely recycle your mobile phone.
Are there security concerns about recycling your phone? This often worries people, even putting them off recycling. Li Zhiyi suggests that backing up and deleting your phone's data before recycling, and restoring it to factory settings, can resolve most security issues. Various mobile phone brands now offer tutorials on their official websites.
If you're still worried, the "Information Security Device" launched by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2020 can physically destroy the phone's charging port, power button, and SIM card slot. With just a few simple steps, the phone can be rendered powerless and unable to read data.
However, there are currently only five devices in Taiwan, deployed at hypermarkets, mobile phone stores, and Environmental Protection Bureau locations. Each location is set up for two months. The EPA stated that over the past two years, many people have complained about the lack of locations. Even courts and MRT companies have frequently requested the devices due to people leaving their phones behind. The agency plans to increase the number of devices and locations in the future.
Li Zhiyi also emphasized that physical destruction is just an extra layer of security. As long as people restore their phones to their original factory settings, they can recycle their old phones with confidence.
Recycling isn't the only way to use items; reselling and repairing them can also contribute to sustainable use. France launches a "Repairability Index"
Recycling isn't the only way to extend the lifespan of old phones. Selling them secondhand or repairing them for a few more years are also ways to extend their lifespan. According to an EPA survey, approximately 17.8% of people choose to resell their old phones. Li Zhiyi explained that many phones in Taiwan enter the secondhand market or are used as emergency backups. While these aren't counted towards recycling rates, they do serve the purpose of extending their lifespan and reducing demand for new phones.
To maintain stable profits, technology products sometimes deliberately under-provide consumers with adequate repair resources, forcing them to undergo regular product replacements. This business model is known as "planned obsolescence." To promote product sustainability, the European Union's "Right to Repair" initiative has emerged in recent years, urging manufacturers to make it easier for consumers to obtain parts and repair services.
France even established a "Repairability Index" system in 2021, forcing mobile phone manufacturers to disclose the "repairability" of their products. The relevant indicators will be judged based on the warranty period, ease of disassembly and assembly, ease of obtaining parts, and parts prices.
The first batch of products required to be labeled with a repairability index include mobile phones, laptops, televisions, washing machines, and lawn mowers.
Li Zhiyi revealed that the Environmental Protection Agency is currently studying how to localize France's "Repairability Index" system, aiming to reduce repair costs and extend the lifespan of phones requiring only replacement parts. If the system is feasible for localization, the agency will collaborate with mobile phone manufacturers to launch a pilot program, with the potential for legalization.
Source: Environmental Information Center (https://e-info.org.tw/node/235435)
