There are almost 3 billion cell phone users worldwide and the amount of technological refuse that they produce has been increasing in volume and with it will come an increasing demand for recycling services.

Recycling will grow to 100 million units in 2012, according to estimates generating revenues of up to $3 billion. The increase in recycled handsets shouldn’t be blamed at increasing cellphone users. Cellphone product cycles are becoming shorter due to the amount of attractive models in the market. Product awareness is also increasing (does the iPhone have anything to do with this?).

Lastly, the demand for cheaper cellphones and the increasing pull of an environmentally-friendly movement are the driving forces behind the recycling industry. Handset makers like Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson are giving their full cooperation to recyclers, making current and future cellphones more recyclable.