| Five bloody billion 12:43 - Feb 26 with 2437 views | NthQldITFC |
I just heard on Radio 4 that 5,000,000,000 mobile phones were 'thrown away' last year.
We are an absolute disgrace of a species and we didn't deserve stewardship of this once beautiful planet.
We probably won't have it for much longer, I reckon.
Rampant capitalist consumerism is a deadly cancer.
Are you complicit? |  |
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| Five bloody billion on 16:33 - Feb 26 with 545 views | NthQldITFC |
| Five bloody billion on 15:25 - Feb 26 by lowhouseblue |
since only some 1.6 billion phones were made last year, there must be 3.4 billion former phone users who have now given up. so that's saving energy at least.
(i don't believe the 5 billion) |
You may be right, I didn't check the source but I think it was Evan Davis who said it, so I kind of assumed he was right.
Nevertheless the underlying behaviour of our throwaway society is appalling, isn't it, given the threats that life on Earth (including us) faces from us and our greed and stupidity and total unwillingness to face the clear and obvious fact that consumerism is totally out of control and we're taking away our children's futures. | |
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| Five bloody billion on 16:36 - Feb 26 with 535 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Five bloody billion on 15:54 - Feb 26 by TJS |
I think it probably means 5 billion people discarded a perfectly good working mobile phone as they ( obviously) needed a shiny new one that was largely the same.
I regularly replace stuff only when it actually stops working or is very close to it.
Examples
2007 washing machine stopped working in 2025
2004 fridge freezer stopped working in 2022
2004 cooker still going (replaced oven element a couple of times) |
Given that is more than 1 per every 2 people alive on the planet, that would take a lot of people throwing away multiple ones per year to make up for those who didn't throw one away at all last year.
I agree about appliances not being kept. They aren't designed to last like they used to be either. I recall my parents getting them serviced every year with a view to them lasting 20+ years. |  |
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| Five bloody billion on 16:48 - Feb 26 with 516 views | Keno |
There are 5 million old phones land fill
Katie Melua struggling for a new song? |  |
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| Five bloody billion on 16:49 - Feb 26 with 516 views | DJR |
| Five bloody billion on 16:33 - Feb 26 by NthQldITFC |
You may be right, I didn't check the source but I think it was Evan Davis who said it, so I kind of assumed he was right.
Nevertheless the underlying behaviour of our throwaway society is appalling, isn't it, given the threats that life on Earth (including us) faces from us and our greed and stupidity and total unwillingness to face the clear and obvious fact that consumerism is totally out of control and we're taking away our children's futures. |
It does seem hight but it looks like the figure comes from this. It seems to be a plea for recycling rather than a condemnation of the throwaway nature of society. A BBC story from the same year based its story on this figure, so maybe that is where Evan Davis got his figure from.
https://weee-forum.org/ws_news |  | | |
| Five bloody billion on 17:08 - Feb 26 with 482 views | Mark |
Just look at all the rubbish thrown out of car windows and fly tipped. Plastic everywhere. It is so sad. [Post edited 26 Feb 17:12]
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| Five bloody billion on 17:24 - Feb 26 with 461 views | NthQldITFC |
| Five bloody billion on 16:49 - Feb 26 by DJR |
It does seem hight but it looks like the figure comes from this. It seems to be a plea for recycling rather than a condemnation of the throwaway nature of society. A BBC story from the same year based its story on this figure, so maybe that is where Evan Davis got his figure from.
https://weee-forum.org/ws_news |
That's it. I remember him referencing Weee now.
Recycling is, of course, a good thing in itself, but the energy use involved in recycling doesn't make it an excuse to keep buying crap unnecessarily. | |
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| Five bloody billion on 17:27 - Feb 26 with 452 views | Benters |
| Five bloody billion on 17:08 - Feb 26 by Mark |
Just look at all the rubbish thrown out of car windows and fly tipped. Plastic everywhere. It is so sad. [Post edited 26 Feb 17:12]
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Indeed it is sad and it makes me so angry 😡 |  |
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| Five bloody billion on 17:33 - Feb 26 with 432 views | DJR |
| Five bloody billion on 17:24 - Feb 26 by NthQldITFC |
That's it. I remember him referencing Weee now.
Recycling is, of course, a good thing in itself, but the energy use involved in recycling doesn't make it an excuse to keep buying crap unnecessarily. |
I try to keep consumer goods for as long as possible.
I have had my car for 13 years (until recently it paid no road tax because of its low CO2 emissions) and I plan to hang on to it for as long as I can.
I suppose I've never really got a buzz from buying the latest or most expensive thing, and my car and other consumer purchases are fairly basic. [Post edited 26 Feb 17:35]
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| Five bloody billion on 17:35 - Feb 26 with 425 views | lowhouseblue |
| Five bloody billion on 16:49 - Feb 26 by DJR |
It does seem hight but it looks like the figure comes from this. It seems to be a plea for recycling rather than a condemnation of the throwaway nature of society. A BBC story from the same year based its story on this figure, so maybe that is where Evan Davis got his figure from.
https://weee-forum.org/ws_news |
the most credible reading of that is that in 2022 16 billion mobile phones had ever been made and 5.3 million of those were no longer is use / had been thrown away. otherwise it makes little sense. |  |
| And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show |
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| Five bloody billion on 19:02 - Feb 26 with 343 views | armchaircritic59 |
I won't be when I eventually get round to replacing my nearly 6yo one! I'll do the right thing. |  | | |
| Five bloody billion on 19:13 - Feb 26 with 339 views | DJR |
| Five bloody billion on 17:46 - Feb 26 by lowhouseblue |
well you live in the rich bit of the world. the only figure i can find is that 1.6 billion phones were made in 2025 - which i assume was the peak year to date. so a cumulative 16 billion feels about right. |
I am not saying what WEEEE said is right, but this states that almost 28 billion mobile phones were sold between 2009 and 2024. This is based on Statista data.
https://www.sellcell.com/how-m
And don't forget that before 2009 there would have been a very large amount of non-smartphones sold.
It is also worth pointing out that, according to the WEF, there are now more mobile phones subscriptions than there are people in the World. [Post edited 26 Feb 19:39]
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| Five bloody billion on 19:41 - Feb 26 with 308 views | OldFart71 |
Unfortunately the art of conversation has been destroyed by mobile phones. Sounds ridiculous really as a phone is a means of communication. But due to them having everything else on them they are used for taking photos, texting,playing games etc, etc.
With the amount of pubs closing and beer costing less for four cans than a pint in a pub society are becoming cave dwellers. Where the old chestnut of having a garage or a room in the house where hubby has his playthings is called a man cave.
Yes I admit I have a mobile phone, but it was a refurbished thing from Amazon warehouse and I have had it for about five years. The previous one was the same and I only change when the thing is lifeless.
As for other things such as clothes I have always gone for quality and after my younger years when I was fashion conscious and went through the winkle pickers,flared trousers, fell boots and parker. Platformed shoes and oxford bags I now buy clothes and shoes that are quality, don't really go out of fashion and last. | | | |
| Five bloody billion on 20:24 - Feb 26 with 279 views | J2BLUE |
| Five bloody billion on 19:41 - Feb 26 by OldFart71 |
Unfortunately the art of conversation has been destroyed by mobile phones. Sounds ridiculous really as a phone is a means of communication. But due to them having everything else on them they are used for taking photos, texting,playing games etc, etc.
With the amount of pubs closing and beer costing less for four cans than a pint in a pub society are becoming cave dwellers. Where the old chestnut of having a garage or a room in the house where hubby has his playthings is called a man cave.
Yes I admit I have a mobile phone, but it was a refurbished thing from Amazon warehouse and I have had it for about five years. The previous one was the same and I only change when the thing is lifeless.
As for other things such as clothes I have always gone for quality and after my younger years when I was fashion conscious and went through the winkle pickers,flared trousers, fell boots and parker. Platformed shoes and oxford bags I now buy clothes and shoes that are quality, don't really go out of fashion and last. |
Wot r u tlkn abt? |  |
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| Five bloody billion on 20:28 - Feb 26 with 274 views | Leaky |
Well had to renew my contract with O2 as apps I use for work stopped working. I was offered a new contract at a lower price with a tablet thrown in that I don't really need |  | | |
| Five bloody billion on 01:00 - Feb 27 with 217 views | armchaircritic59 |
| Five bloody billion on 16:36 - Feb 26 by Nthsuffolkblue |
Given that is more than 1 per every 2 people alive on the planet, that would take a lot of people throwing away multiple ones per year to make up for those who didn't throw one away at all last year.
I agree about appliances not being kept. They aren't designed to last like they used to be either. I recall my parents getting them serviced every year with a view to them lasting 20+ years. |
Ha, I have a working fridge that was my parents, it has to be around 40 years old. Can you imagine that today? Consider yourself fortunate if you get 40 months out of anything. | | | |
| Five bloody billion on 04:02 - Feb 27 with 203 views | Benters |
| Five bloody billion on 20:28 - Feb 26 by Leaky |
Well had to renew my contract with O2 as apps I use for work stopped working. I was offered a new contract at a lower price with a tablet thrown in that I don't really need |
I had the same thing with the free tablet I even asked if I had to take it the lady said it was free with your phone so why wouldn’t you want it.
Compared to my IPad it’s not all that tbh. [Post edited 27 Feb 4:05]
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| Five bloody billion on 06:29 - Feb 27 with 162 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| Five bloody billion on 04:02 - Feb 27 by Benters |
I had the same thing with the free tablet I even asked if I had to take it the lady said it was free with your phone so why wouldn’t you want it.
Compared to my IPad it’s not all that tbh. [Post edited 27 Feb 4:05]
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Sell it on ebay? |  |
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| Five bloody billion on 07:24 - Feb 27 with 128 views | Benters |
It doesn’t work properly Dollers. | |
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| Five bloody billion on 07:56 - Feb 27 with 97 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| Five bloody billion on 07:24 - Feb 27 by Benters |
It doesn’t work properly Dollers. |
I meant when you first got it but didn't want it. | |
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| Five bloody billion on 08:06 - Feb 27 with 80 views | DJR |
| Five bloody billion on 04:02 - Feb 27 by Benters |
I had the same thing with the free tablet I even asked if I had to take it the lady said it was free with your phone so why wouldn’t you want it.
Compared to my IPad it’s not all that tbh. [Post edited 27 Feb 4:05]
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One aspirin? That doesn't sound much of an incentive to buy a phone. | | | |
| Five bloody billion on 09:32 - Feb 27 with 41 views | redrickstuhaart |
| Five bloody billion on 13:09 - Feb 26 by LegendofthePhoenix |
China has over 1,000 coal fired power stations. They make most of the mobile phones. Just sayin'. |
They also have the fastest growing and largest solar power use in the world. Stop making excuses. | |
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