Kenya To Recycle Counterfeit Handsets

Ahead of the planned switch-off for fake mobile handsets in Kenya, electronics manufacturers Nokia and Samsung have set up separate collection points for fake phones, which will then be recycled.

Nokia and Samsung have set up separate collection points for fake phones, which will then be recycled

“Consumers in Kenya, like in many countries across the globe, are unaware of the environmental benefits of recycling their broken or unwanted mobile phones,” said Bruce Howe, General Manager for Nokia East Africa.

Kenya’s Communications Commission (CCK) is planning to switch off all fake mobile phones by 30 September in an effort to reduce the amount of counterfeit handsets that is currently flooding the Kenyan market.

Handset manufacturer Samsung started a campaign called Give up the Fake! That will allow Kenyan owners of counterfeit handsets the opportunity to turn in their phones without retribution, while being given access to genuine Samsung mobile handsets with a two year warranty and very low prices.

Nokia has set up over a 100 collection points for fake phones, and has partnered with mobile service providers Safaricom, Airtel, Nakumatt, Naivas, Phonelink, and Tuskys to drive their campaign. By giving users access to collection point, it will make it easier for users to dispose of their models.

“The reality is that mobile phones contain many valuable and useful materials that can be recycled, including precious metals and plastics.

In fact, for every one million phones recycled, it is possible to recover nearly 35kg of gold and 350kg of silver, which can be re-used in the production of future electronic goods,” added Howe.

According to Capital FM, “Nokia runs the largest mobile phone recycling program in the world, with over 6,000 collection points in about 100 countries.

The company’s recycling program generates no revenue for the company, but is an important part of its overall sustainability initiatives. As part of this program Nokia collects and recycles handsets and mobile phone accessories, including counterfeit ones and those of other manufacturers.”

Source:IT NEWS AFRICA