An estimated 100,000 stolen handsets; worth up to £4 million; are sold to recycling companies like Phone Recycle Bank every year.

Last Thursday Phone Recycle Bank, attended the launch of a new code of practice aimed at preventing stolen mobile phones from being accepted by mobile phone recycling companies.

The code is a joint initiative by the government, the police and the mobile phone industry and most mobile phone recycling companies have already committed to it.

The code of practice requires all handsets to be checked against the National Mobile Phone Register, which is linked to three industry databases containing information on blocked mobile phones, mobile phones that have been reported as stolen, and Immobilise; a public register of mobile phone ownership. This process allows recyclers to identify the offending handsets and report them to the relevant authorities, who can aim to return the handsets to their rightful owners.

Phone Recycle Bank, who prides itself in being a responsible recycler, has always been committed to putting a stop to mobile phone crime. From its inception, it established procedures to ensure stolen, lost and barred handsets are promptly identified and reported, so supporting this new code of practice is simply a natural progression of Phone Recycle Bank’s commitment to responsible recycling.