As a guest
Bring your old mobile phone and accessories and place them in the collection bin at the front entrance.
They’re Calling on You
Recycle your phone, save primates
Millions of unused phones sit in drawers across Australia, yet the materials inside them are linked to illegal mining in fragile forest habitats, putting wildlife like chimpanzees and gorillas at risk. By recycling your old phone, you can help protect forests and turn unused tech into positive change.
Recycle your phone, save primates
Millions of unused phones sit in drawers across Australia, yet the materials inside them are linked to illegal mining in fragile forest habitats, putting wildlife like chimpanzees and gorillas at risk. By recycling your old phone, you can help protect forests and turn unused tech into positive change.
The problem
Why is mobile phone waste such an issue? Scroll across and tap the icon to learn all about it.
Over 1 billion new phones are made every year.
Each phone contains rare minerals, such as Coltan.
Coltan is illegally mined in forests home to gorillas and chimps.
This results in habitat destruction and wildlife poaching.
Wildlife affected
While coltan mining impacts many African species, illegal mining has impacts across the globe including Asia, where even more primate species and their natural habitats are affected. Animals like Gorilla and Siamang are impacted, too.
The facts
30
MILLION mobile phones sitting in drawers around Australia.
40
There are over 40 different metals found in the average device.
2000
TONNES of mobile waste collected by Mobile Muster since 1998.
30
MILLION mobile phones sitting in drawers around Australia.
40
There are over 40 different metals found in the average device.
2000
TONNES of mobile waste collected by Mobile Muster since 1998.
The solution
Recycling your phone and accessories! This helps reduce demand for rare minerals and therefore mining. If you aren't located near either of Taronga's Zoo's, there are other phone recycling options. Find a drop off location near you.
What you can do
As an organisation
Put out a poster and a small box for collection in your office or workspace. Once the box is full, send your devices to MobileMuster for free via their website!
As a school
Put a poster and a small box for collection in your classroom. Once the box is full, send your devices to MobileMuster for free via their website!
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How to recycle your mobile phone
Your impact
Your actions make a massive impact.
$30k
raised for primates in September 2025 across Australia
5
TONNES of e-waste diverted from landfill
20
TONNES of CO2 kept out of the atmosphere
59,000
devices collected at Taronga
$100k
raised for great apes by Taronga so far!
$30k
raised for primates in September 2025 across Australia
5
TONNES of e-waste diverted from landfill
20
TONNES of CO2 kept out of the atmosphere
59,000
devices collected at Taronga
$100k
raised for great apes by Taronga so far!
What is coltan?
Minerals and ores such as coltan - short for columbite tantalite - are in huge demand in today’s technology industries. Mined in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa, these metals are used in the creation of electronics such as smartphones and sold all around the world.
Why is it an issue?
Sadly, unregulated mining in Africa has taken its toll on local wildlife including critically endangered Grauer’s Gorillas and the endangered Eastern Chimpanzee. By opening up previously untouched wilderness to human exploitation, mining results in habitat destruction and wildlife poaching, with workers sometimes forced into the forest to hunt for food.
How do we prevent it?
The Democratic Republic of Congo has one of the richest deposits of coltan and is the world’s largest supplier of cobalt. We want to extend the life of the metals that have already been extracted for use in technology and reduce the demand for yet further mining of Gorilla and Chimpanzee habitat.
FAQs
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More ways to take action
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