As the public becomes increasingly aware of green issues many products have come under scrutiny. One of the most discussed items is small hand held devices like mobile phones. Mobile phone recycling is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing segments of the recycling industry. Mobile phones have valuable parts including the plastic casing which can be recycled and many of the electronic components which can be re-used in various ways. However, the most important reason to recycle mobile phones is the potential devastation that they can cause in the environment. When mobile phone batteries leak they can leech harmful chemicals into the soil which eventually ends up contaminating drinking water. This is one of the reasons some people want to put warning labels on mobile phones, the other is because they could be a risk to our health.
Mobile phones emit a low level of radiation that could be dangerous to health. Although evidence and studies are still being gathered, there is a growing constituency that thinks mobile phones are not just bad for the environment, but also bad for human health. Several cities are now debating whether or not to pass legislation that would force mobile phone makers to put information on phones that would let people know exactly how much radiation was being emitted by their handset. In addition, phones would carry a warning reminding people about the harmful effects of batteries on the environment.
Some have even suggested that marketing strategies may have to be amended so that mobile phones are no longer aimed at children, who are at the highest risk for issues like brain tumors.
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