There are an estimated 49 million mobile phone subscribers in the UK. Over 15 million mobile phones are replaced in the UK each year. Some are returned for trade-in, but millions end up in drawers and toy boxes or in landfill where they can potentially harm the environment. The average handset is replaced every 18 months, but they are designed by the
manufacturer to last for seven to ten years.
We are very fortunate in the UK because our network providers subsidise the cost of mobile phones so we often get them at a low cost (or for free). Most countries aren’t so fortunate. New phones which we take for granted are often prohibitively expensive in developing countries.
Community Fonebak aims to address three important areas:
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Providing a fundraising opportunity for charities and other groups
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Minimising our impact on the environment by providing a safe and responsible solution for recycling unwanted mobile phones
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Meeting the demand for providing low-cost communications in developing countries
