Uncovering mobile phone recycling drivers and barriers

Mobile phone waste has become a global concern due to the rapid development of technologies, shorter lifespan, and increasing consumer demand for the latest electronic devices. Existing studies show that the mobile phone recycling rate is low globally, and the underlying factors that affect consumers’ decisions to recycle mobile phones have not been fully discovered. This exploratory study is part of a larger project that aims to systematically investigate the drivers and barriers of mobile phone recycling. The study employed a qualitative approach, and data were obtained from five online focus groups of 28 participants in Australia. Thematic analysis reveals key drivers (e.g., moral norms, awareness of consequences, perceived effectiveness, and future orientation) and barriers (e.g., lack of knowledge, insufficient incentive, privacy concern, personal attachment, and perceived inconvenience). These findings have several sustainability implications and aid the design of subsequent quantitative studies to better understand consumer mobile phone recycling behaviour.