FY2008 Data on Recycling of Cellular and PHS Devices

<July 21, 2009 >

  The Telecommunications Carriers Association (TCA) and CIAJ are working to improving the efficient use of materials in manufacturing cellular phones and PHS terminals through the “Mobile Recycling Network (MRN).”
  As part of this endeavor, TCA, with the cooperation of mobile operators providing cellular phone and PHS services, created MRN in April, 2001, which voluntarily collects used cellular and PHS terminals, battery chargers, and the batteries, mainly through the approximately 8,500 retail outlets throughout Japan (as of March 31, 2008) regardless of carrier or manufacturer.
  Meanwhile, CIAJ established the “Environmental Assessment Guideline for Cellular and PHS Equipment,” which outlines measures to reduce, re-use, and recycle. The CIAJ guideline aims to promote such activities, and encourage product assessment by manufacturers based on the guidelines.
  The actual figures for recycling in FY2008 are as follows.

(1) Figures for Recycling

  Despite the efforts of the MRN participating companies, the number of cellular and PHS terminals collected in FY2008 decreased from the FY2007 figure by 269,000 terminals (-4.2%). The figure peaked at 13,615,000 terminals in FY2002 and has continued to decrease since. The number of handsets shipped by manufacturers for the market itself decreased from 51.67 million sets in FY2007 to 35.85 million sets in FY2008 (-30.6%)* and was likely the main reason for the most recent drop in number of handsets turned over to MRN. In addition, handsets are loaded with increasingly more advanced functions, and such added uses are thought to be another reason users are not letting go of their old phones.
  On the other hand, the collection of batteries has increased. Battery exchange services offered by some mobile carriers to their subscribers are likely to have contributed to this increase.

*Source: Japan Electronics and Information Technologies Industries Association (JEITA)

* The sampling methodology and questioning methodology differed somewhat from last year’s survey. Therefore a simple comparison with past results may not be accurate and is offered only for reference.

1)   The survey shows that among those who changed handset models or terminated the contract for their handset in the past year, 16% had returned their handsets to the retail shop.
 Reference: In the 2007 survey, the figure was 29.6%.
The figure for those who had not returned their handsets includes people who held on to their handsets after changing or terminating their previous devices as well as those who didn’t change or terminate the contract for their handsets during the period covered.

2)  The rate of people who disposed of their handsets as trash was 12.4%, while those who returned their handsets to the retail shop was 66.4%. Meanwhile, 3.9% of respondents had sold their old handsets as used phones.
 Reference: In the 2007 survey, 15.0% disposed of their handsets as trash, 66.9% returned their handsets to the retail shop and 3.0% sold their old handsets as used phones.

3)  52.6% of respondents have a handset(s) used for a purpose other than as a communication device.
 Reference: In the 2007 survey, the figure was 28.0%
 40.1%of the 52.6%, indicated that they use such handset(s) for a particular purpose (other than communications)*.

* This question was not included in the 2007 survey.

4)  Among the respondents who have a handset(s) used for a purpose other than as a communication device, the most popular use of such handsets (multiple answers possible) was “kept as part of a collection or for sentimental reasons (17%)” because the device contained photos or e-mail, indicating the strong attachment to handsets. Reflecting the multiple and advanced functions available on cellular phones, the uses by the respondents were varied, such as, “use as a clock, including alarm clock (12.4%),” “use as a phone/address book (6.8%),” “use as a digital camera (4.9%),” “use for backing-up data (4.3%),” “use as a music player (2.9%),” “use to play games on (2.7%)” and “use as a TV (2.0%).” 6.1% of respondents also indicated they used it as a backup to be used by inserting the IC card (SIM card or UIM card) of their other handset(s) and 6.3% said they gave it to their children as a toy, letting them play with the camera function, for example.
 Furthermore, as many as 25.6% of respondents chose “worried about disclosing personal information” as a reason for holding on to their handsets, even after they no longer used them. 13.4% indicated that the reason for holding on was that they “did not know how to dispose of their handsets.” At the same time, 32.0% of respondents said they kept their handsets “for no specific reason,” meaning there was not necessarily a strong incentive to hang on to their handsets.

5)  Among the respondents who have a handset(s) used for no purpose, including not even as a communication device, 43.2% stated that they would like to dispose of the handset(s) sometime in the future. This indicates there is potential for greater collection.*

* This question was not included in the 2007 survey.

6)  Awareness of the recycling of cellular phones and PHS equipment is 69.4%, indicating that the effort to raise awareness is paying off.
 Reference: In the 2007 survey, the figure was 53.8.0%

  MRN will establish the following numeric targets in order to further promote recycling activities.

(1) Increasing awareness of recycling activities

  * Collection rate = “total number of devices of all carriers collected at licensed shops and other locations” ÷ (“total number of subscribers who changed models at licensed shops and other locations” + “total number of mobile phone contract terminations”)

(1) Take steps to increase awareness

  In order to increase awareness of recycling activities by MRN, efforts will continue to print information on catalogs, manuals and advertisements on various media. In order to decrease the number of users who dispose of their handsets as trash, we will continue to work with local governments, who are responsible for trash collection, to increase awareness. In order to promote collection, we need to continue our efforts to provide guidance at stores when users change models or terminate their contracts.

(2) Take measures to increase collection

1)  To increase collection rates among users who have sentimental attachments to information and data (photos, e-mail records, etc.) on their used handsets, it is necessary to make it easier to back up or transfer data stored on old models to new models.

2)  Increase knowledge and explain in user-friendly ways how to completely erase personal data left on used handsets, while improving support mechanisms at retail stores (i.e. handset destruction), so that wary users feel more comfortable taking their handsets they no longer use to the retail stores.

3)  With terminals being equipped with more advanced functions, more deliberation is needed on issues arising when collecting terminals made for other carriers (transfer of stored data, settling electronic money accounts, etc.).

(3) 3R measures

1)  Make further improvements in the “Environmental Assessment Guideline for Cellular and PHS Equipment” to strengthen promotion of product design which incorporates the spirit of the 3 Rs.

2)  Strive to increase the recycling rate and also consider the possibilities for re-using equipment parts.

Mobile Recycling Network

URL: www.mobile-recycle.net (Japanese)

For details, contact:
Mr. Yagi
Products & Technologies Development
CIAJ
tel: 81-3-5403-9358      fax: 81-3-5403-9360         e-mail: t-yagi[at]ciaj.or.jp

For more general inquiries, contact:
Mr. Mano
Corporate Communications
CIAJ
tel: 81-3-5403-9351      fax: 81-3-5403-9360         e-mail: mano[at]ciaj.or.jp