Britons keep 90m unused phone handsets at home!

London, Sep 14 (ANI): Britons keep almost 90 million unused phone handsets at home after they upgrade to new models, according to a countrywide survey.

The research revealed that 52 per cent keep unused phones at home in case a current handset is stolen, lost or broken.

In fact, more than two third Britons (68 per cent) have admitted to having more than one mobile phone hoarded at home.

Only 22 per cent of respondents actively recycle their phones, with 21 per cent opting instead to hand down old mobiles to friends and family.

Astonishingly, about four per cent people in the survey declared that they actually throw their mobile phones in the bin.

While the average lifespan of a mobile phone is around seven years, 87 per cent of respondents claimed to have had their current handset for less than two years.

Eighty one per cent Britons confessed that they upgrade their phones every one to two years.

"This survey shows that over the years we have become increasingly opportunistic and capricious when it comes to mobile phones," the Telegraph quoted Tammy Arya, general manager at The Recycling Factory based in Boston, Lincolnshire, as saying.

"We generally change our handsets whenever a new, improved model is available or when we are offered an upgrade. This means that within the seven year average lifespan of a mobile phone most of us will go through around three or four handsets.

"As a result, there are now well over 90 million unused mobile phones lying around in drawers throughout the UK, or even worse, being binned.

"It is vital to encourage the public to start recycling their mobile phones to do their bit for the environment and help to keep unnecessary landfill waste to a minimum. It won't cost anything," she added.

She urged people to log on to The Recycling Factory website to send their old phone in free of charge and receive a cheque for the value of the phone. (ANI)