The mobile phone industry’s product stewardship program MobileMuster has commended the efforts of local councils who have dramatically increased their collections and helped make recycling more accessible to the community.

Hon. Josh Frydenberg MP Minister for Environment and Energy said eight councils from across Australia were recognised as Australia’s top recyclers.

“Electronic waste is one of the fastest growing waste issues in Australia and it’s great to see MobileMuster bringing industry and local government together to make it easy to recycle and deliver important environmental benefits to our communities.”

The top achievers

The following councils took out top honours in the awards:

• National Top Collector per Capita – District Council of Orroroo – Carrieton (SA).
• NSW Top Collector – New South Wales – Hornsby Shire Council.
• Territory Top Collector – Northern Territory – Alice Springs Town Council.
• QLD Top Collector – Queensland – Brisbane City Council.
• WA Top Collector – Western Australia – City of Stirling.
• SA Top Collector – South Australia – City of Onkaparinga.
• TAS Top Collector – Tasmania – Burnie City Council.
• VIC Top Collector – Victoria – Moonee Valley City Council.

Recycling manager for MobileMuster Spyro Kalos said: “While council collections have been steadily growing in the last couple of years, it’s great to see an even higher lift this year with councils helping inform and educate their residents about recycling.”

“In the last year, councils have increased their collections by a huge 25% and recycled over 4.5 tonnes of mobiles phone and components through the program.

“Over the last decade, local government partners have collected 35 tonnes of mobiles phone components for recycling, including approximately 420,000 handsets and batteries.

“However, with an estimated 23 million old mobile phones sitting in drawers waiting to be recycled, including five million that are broken and no longer working, MobileMuster will continue to work with councils to encourage residents to recycle responsibly,” Mr Kalos said.

The top Mobile Muster councils in each state were:

New South Wales

1. Hornsby Shire Council
2. City of Sydney
3. Randwick City Council
4. Lake Macquarie City Council
5. Burwood Council

Northern Territory

1. Alice Springs Town Council
2. East Arnhem Shire Council
3. West Arnhem Regional Council

Queensland

1. Brisbane City Council
2. Redland City Council
3. Townsville City Council
4. Scenic Rim Regional Council
5. Cairns Regional Council

South Australia

1. City of Onkaparinga
2. City of Charles Sturt
3. City of Tea Tree Gully
4. City of Mitcham
5. City of Port Adelaide Enfield

Tasmania

1. Burnie City Council
2. Launceston City Council
3. Glenorchy City Council
4. Break O’Day Council
5. Kingborough Council

Victoria

1. Moonee Valley City Council
2. Nillumbik Shire Council
3. City of Monash
4. Latrobe City Council
5. City of Greater Geelong

Western Australia

1. City of Stirling
2. City of South Perth
3. City of Fremantle
4. City of Cockburn
5. City of Vincent