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Every hour 1712 mobile phones are upgraded in the UK alone. Science Museum's new exhibition Dead Ringers? reveals how wasteful your mobile is and what scientists and the industry are doing to combat the waste.
For instance, researchers from Warwick University and plastics manufacturer PVAXX Research developed a new type of phone cover made from biodegradable plastics - with a seed inside.
"Our idea was that incorporating a seed gives people a reason to separate the plastic parts, saving recyclers money, time and effort," says Dr Kerry Kirwan.
When you plant your phone cover the biodegrading plastic releases the sunflower seed from its casing and provides it with nutrients to help it grow. Micro-organisms in the soil get to work on the plastics straight away. Within two weeks the seed has started to sprout and the plastic should all be gone within a month.
Comments
Headline should read Dead Phone Poisons Water and Provides Health Risk.
If someone had to do an LCA they would probably find, flower making cellophane casings are not providing any environmental benefit and may wind up actually distributing evasive plants all over the world