An innovative UK-wide mobile phone recycling campaign is to be launched by a Scots company.

Organisers say the scheme has both charitable and environmental benefits.

Several million mobiles are dumped across the UK each year.

The discarded phones end up in landfill sites, where corrosion to their batteries causes cadmium - a dangerous toxic substance - to leech into the soil.

Unsuitable for recycling

About four million replacement mobiles are bought each year, but only 5% of old phones will be recycled.

Now Falkirk-based recycling company Eurosource plans to collect old mobiles from across the country to sell to African countries with poor landline telecommunications.

Almost all old mobile phones can be recycled to some extent and sold for up to �6 each.

The firm says that phones which prove to be unsuitable for recycling will be disposed of safely.

Chosen charity

Companies, schools and individuals are being encouraged to collect mobiles for recycling.

Half of the profits will to charity, and it will be possible to recommend a cause to receive the proceeds.

The company also urged people to recycle cartridges from printers, which also cause pollution.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency welcomed the mobile phone recycling campaign, which will be launched officially in a few weeks' time.