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Seoul YMCA Citizens’ Mediation Center
60% of the 15 million retired mobile phones have not been collected, while 10 million are left unattended
In order to promote their active collection, it is necessary to introduce a reward or incentive payment and mandatory deposit systems and develop a used phone set market
In an age with 38 million (77.5%) mobile phone service subscribers, the mobile phone has become a human necessity. The mobile phone has come to represent a ‘culture’ of personal life and expression, far exceeding its original functional characteristics. Amid such universal usage, a strong voice has been raised about the collection and disposal of retired mobile phone sets, which are being replaced ever more frequently. As such, the Seoul YMCA hosted a discussion session to prepare measures for handling retired mobile phone sets together with experts from various areas on the 20th of month (Tue.). The session was attended by Park Jeong-seok (CEO, Mobile Consumers Union), Dr. Oh Yong-seon (Director of Bukhansan Research Institute), Dr. Yu Sang-oh (Expert Adviser of Kyunghyang Shinmun), Lee Jae-yeong (Administrator, Environment Ministry), Im Hyeong-sun (Supervisor, LG TeleCom) and Choe Eun-ju (Secretary, Seoul YMCA).
Only 30% of the mobile phone sets that are dumped and replaced by new phone sets are collected and recycled. It is assumed that a substantial number of retired phone sets are either left unattended at home or circulated illegally.
Seoul YMCA Citizens’ Mediation Center presented a report of its findings from a survey conducted in November last year on the local recycling status of mobile phone sets, market transactions involving used mobile phone sets, cases of disputes and damages, and the perception of the general public. The survey report prepared by Seoul YMCA also introduced the US example, where mobile phone recycling is regulated by law: the design of mobile phone sets that can be recycled, extended usage life, and the removal of harmful substances are mandatory requirements of US law. The survey report also indicated the very poor status of mobile phone set collection in Korea, where one 1 out of 8 consumers has purchased a used mobile phone set.
At the discussion session, attention was drawn to the urgent need to increase the ratio of collected mobile phone sets, which is very low at present, and in this connection various measures were proposed ? including the necessity for: an incentive system offering minimum monetary compensation as many consumers are reluctant to turn in used phone sets free of charge; a campaign jointly hosted by the manufacturers, mobile phone service companies, press and NGOs to inform consumers of how their used phone sets may be collected; an enhanced collection ratio by imposing a refundable deposit at the time of purchase. To achieve action recycling of the collected mobile phone sets, various different solutions were proposed. Above all else, the used phone set market needs to be reinvigorated; manufacturers’ active participation is essential for recycling and reuse; the current Act on Promoting Recycling should be amended to promote reuse rather than recycling; and the use of collected mobile phone sets by lonely senior citizens, alienated residents in farming and fishing villages, and physically handicapped people for their emergency communication should be encouraged.
Additionally, it would be extremely viable if consumers were to deposit a sum as a kind of environment fund contribution at the time of purchase in order to enhance the collection ratio. Furthermore, the active participation of businesses, including the manufacturers, is essential for recycling and reuse. It is further believed that the government should encourage the relevant businesses to cooperate, while citizens should enhance the collection efforts by launching and participating in various campaigns.
▶ Contact: Im Seung-mi, Secretary and Kim Hui-kyeong, Team Leader
(02-725-1400) |
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Green Consumer Network, Consumers’ Union of Korea
Holds Report Meeting on Campaigns for Securing Consumer Safety at Public Service Facilities
Accidents at public service facilities that have the potential to develop into large disasters take place repeatedly. The consumers who use such public service facilities have good reason to be worried.
Many of the safety accidents that occur at such facilities are attributable to negligence, despite periodic inspections, as people fail to adhere to safety requirements. Now, the consumers who use these facilities need to pay attention to their own safety and engage in monitoring activities in order to enhance public safety.
To that end, some consumer organizations have developed evaluation indexes for monitoring fire safety in public service facilities. These indexes need to be further refined for accurate evaluation. We would like to engage in discussion in a meeting with experts to establish steady monitoring activities.
▶ Contact: Go Yeong-mi, secretary, Consumers’ Union of Korea (02-794-7081)
Kim Se-jin, secretary, Green Consumers’ Network (02-3273-7117) |
