14 DAY TRIAL // Scottish Gas customers can now earn some money as well as prove their interest in the environment, by recycling their old mobile phones. Around 5 million people received a new mobile phone as a present last year and the number of people receiving such a gift is expected to rise in the future.
As people receive new mobile phones, they dispose of their old handhelds that end up in landfill sites and can do a great amount of damage to the environment, cause pollution or contribute to global warming as the toxic substances they contain can leak into the surrounding soil.
Neil Cameron, Scottish Gas spokesperson, said: "If you got a new phone for Christmas, don't just throw the old one in the bin. It will end up in a landfill site causing all sorts of damage to the environment. Recycle your old mobile instead and you could get up to ?100 back."
Along with their bills, Scottish Gas customers will also receive a special envelope that enables them to recycle their old mobile phones free of charge as well as check the value of their handset and decide whether they'd rather receive the money by cheque or bank transfer.
?2 will be donated to Save the Children for every recycled mobile with a value of less than ?10. The average recyclable value of a mobile phone is around ?30 while some mobile phones may have a value of up to ?100.
"We're always looking for ways to help customers save money and take more responsibility for their own personal contribution to climate change. With so many mobile phones languishing in cupboards and drawers, recycling your mobile phone could be worth more than you think - both to you and the environment," continued Neil Cameron.