Old Cellphones Sitting in Closets to Be Collected by Postal Workers

[Financial News] If you have replaced your phone but have not been able to throw away the old one or find a proper way to recycle it, you will soon be able to solve the problem simply by contacting the post office and requesting a pickup.
Photos, phone numbers and other personal information stored on the phone will be safely destroyed by a specialist company. The reusable parts and discarded components will also be separated, helping resource recycling.
On the 1st, Korea Post under the Ministry of Science and ICT signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and Isunhwan Governance to establish a safe collection system for discarded cellphones based on parcel pickup. The agencies said they will launch a home pickup service for phones stored at home and begin the service within this year.


The purpose of the agreement is to build a system that can safely and eco-friendly collect and recycle discarded cellphones, helping promote a circular economy.
Korea Post will set up a collection system, including post office parcel pickup, so that people can dispose of discarded cellphones conveniently and safely.
The ministry will provide administrative support and publicity to promote the collection and recycling of discarded cellphones, while Isunhwan Governance plans to support collection and recycling operations through its cellphone collection platform, Nanum Phone, and help expand participation through promotional efforts.
Until now, people who wanted to dispose of old cellphones had to use Nanum Phone, enter their information, and either visit a convenience store or send the device directly through a private courier service.
However, if Korea Post begins collecting discarded cellphones through parcel pickup, users will be able to apply for post office pickup directly on the Nanum Phone information page. A postal worker will then visit the applicant's home and collect the phone in person, making the process more convenient.
Discarded cellphones collected through the postal network will be delivered to designated recycling companies, where all personal data stored on the devices will be securely destroyed.
To prevent fire and explosions, recyclers will first remove the batteries. The phones will then go through physical processes such as shredding and crushing, as well as recovery processes such as smelting, before being reborn as recycled raw materials.
Park In-hwan, head of Korea Post, said, "We will actively support the national resource circulation policy so that people can dispose of discarded cellphones conveniently and safely anywhere through the nationwide postal network," adding, "This will be an opportunity for people to take part in resource circulation more easily."

[email protected] Lee Gu-sun Reporter