Mobile services provider 02 has extended its contract with Falkirk-based mobile recycling company, Redeem, to expand its mobile phone and electronic equipment recovery service to reach corporate, as well as individual, customers.
The free ‘O2 Recycle for Business’ service offers O2 business customers free collection of devices (including mobile handsets and other electronic equipment) and gives customers the freedom of choice to decide how money raised from the handsets is spent. To date, Redeem has processed over 500,000 mobiles and paid out over £35 million for old devices for O2 Recycle, making it the largest mobile phone recycler in Europe.
Redeem, which already handles the recovery of old handsets for individual O2 customers, has also developed a new mobile site for O2, believed to be a world first, which uses automatic mobile phone detection to determine which brand and model of mobile is being used – then automatically offers a top recycling price for that device on the spot.
Simon Dunn, Redeem’s Director of Commercial Development welcomed the contract, saying: “This is a great success story for Redeem – and a huge vote of confidence for a Scottish business. The new contract is a further extension of the successful partnership we have developed with O2 over the past few years.
“Over 90 per cent of O2’s customers state they are extremely satisfied with our recycling service. I am sure our continued focus on delivering an excellent customer experience has played a huge role in giving Telefonica UK [O2’s parent company] the confidence when committing to another long term agreement with Redeem.”
Gareth Rice, Head of Environment at O2 also welcomed the partnership, saying: "O2 Recycle has helped to liberate thousands of mobile phones which have been sitting in people's drawers across the UK. Now we will be tackling business phones with a well proven recycling service, helping companies do good for the environment and raise money for good causes whilst providing a reliable office recycling solution."
O2 Recycle holds the world record for the largest number of mobile phones to be recycled in one day (10,310 handsets in one day, according to the Guinness Book of World Records) and aims to become a zero waste to landfill company by 2015 as part of its three-year sustainability plan Think Big Blueprint.
More information on the O2 Recycle for business service can be found on O2’s website.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.