Recycling program MobileMuster, is urging Australians to donate old phones and help vulnerable individuals reconnect.
According to the Australian Digital Inclusion Index 2023, almost a quarter of Australians are digitally excluded, reporting that using the internet is not a priority for them, that they lack the confidence to use it, or that it is too expensive.
The Reconnect Project is a Sydney-based not-for-profit that aims to address this issue by repairing unwanted tech. These discarded phones are then donated to people who need them most, such as domestic violence victims/survivors, refugees, or those experiencing homelessness.
For vulnerable individuals, these phones could be a lifeline to access services such as triple zero, online banking, employment, education or contacting loved ones.
The Reconnect Project also provides employment opportunities for neurodivergent young adults through a training program which skills them in mobile phone repair, retail operations, and customer service.
Any phone that cannot be rehomed is recycled through MobileMuster, the product stewardship program for mobile phone recycling, managed by the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA).
This summer, MobileMuster is donating $10,000 to The Reconnect Project.
Annette Brodie, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Reconnect Project, said the donation will help the project refurbish and rehome 100 mobile phones, but there are many more Australians who need access to a phone.
As the cost of living remains high and people struggle to afford essential technology, Brodie encourages Australians to donate their old phone and give someone the tools they need to start a new chapter.
Louise Hyland, Chief Executive Officer, AMTA, said 90 per cent of a phone’s embodied carbon emissions are created when the phone is made.
“Extending the phone’s life through refurbishment initiatives like The Reconnect Project or recycling them via MobileMuster will help reduce Australia’s emissions and overall e-waste,” said Hyland.
“By finding ways to extend phones’ lives for as long as possible, we can save resources, protect the environment and lower our carbon footprint.”
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