Do obsolete mobile phones contribute to global e-waste?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not related
• D. Unknown

Answer: (A)

Obsolete mobile phones contribute to global e-waste because e-waste includes discarded electronic devices, and phones are routinely replaced or discarded as technology advances or batteries degrade. When these devices are thrown away or improperly recycled, they end up in landfills or informal recycling streams where toxic materials can leak into the environment, while valuable materials inside can be recovered through proper recycling. This reality means obsolete phones are a clear part of the e-waste problem, so the statement is true.

Saying they don’t contribute would ignore documented flows of discarded electronics; claiming they’re not related would be inaccurate since phones are electronic devices; and saying the information is unknown would be incorrect given the broad evidence about e-waste.