TOKYO (Nikkei)--The government plans to start requiring, probably in 2009, mobile phone carriers to collect old handsets so that rare metals can be recovered from the devices, it has been learned.The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of the Environment are considering making it mandatory for mobile phone service providers to take such steps as placing collection boxes at all sales outlets and introducing equipment that disables phones to prevent personal information from being leaked after the handsets are discarded. Under the new regulations, the names of companies violating the rules would be made public and such firms would be subject to fines. The ministries will also likely require mobile phone makers to design handsets so that they are easier to recycle. In addition, the government will consider having local governments collect old digital cameras on a trial basis.
From this Sunday's Nikkei
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