The packaging materials for a mobile weigh approximately 150 grams. In 2009, we sold 2.76 million mobile phones. This created a packaging volume of 414 tonnes. Symbols on the packaging tell our customers how they can dispose of these materials correctly.

Estimates project that there are about 60 million mobile phones in Germany that are no longer being used. As a telecommunications company, we would like to make a contribution to ensuring that components and materials can be returned to the materials cycle by means of correct disposal. Recycling rates for mobile phones have languished below our expectations in recent years. This was the reason behind launching a recycling campaign in association with WWF in 2009.

We teamed up with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to give readers of the July issue of the WWF magazine in 2009 a recycling envelope. The envelope is already addressed and stamped and readers were able to send any mobile phones they no longer required to our recycling partner, Dr. Handy. We paid for the costs involved in this campaign. The success of the project came as a big surprise. In July 2009, 2,265 mobile phones were sent in. This represents an increase of 370 percent by comparison with the previous month.

We have continued our policy of previous years by providing our shops and employees with comprehensive information on recycling throughout 2009. The stamped, addressed envelopes are provided for our customers in shops and they can return their old mobile phones for recycling. Our recycling partner received a total of 11,462 units (2008: approximately 15,000) last year.

After the phones are received by recycling company "Dr. Handy", tests are carried out to establish whether the phones still work properly. If this is the case, they are sold to East Africa and China. If they are no longer serviceable, specially trained technicians dismantle the units into their individual components. They separate valuable precious metals and reusable materials from the electronic scrap. Poisonous components are collected separately and disposed of safely. We pay 2.50 euros to WWF for every phone that we receive. In 2009, a total of 28,665 euros was donated. This money is being invested in the "Middle Elbe" nature conservation project, which aims to preserve the flood plain forest along the River Elbe. The waters on a conservation site covering 9,000 hectares are being restored to their natural condition and flood plain forests are being recreated with hardwood and softwood species. In 2009, we renewed our cooperation with WWF for a further year.

We regularly replace and upgrade equipment or individual components as we expand our mobile phone network, and maintain and repair existing equipment. If at all possible, we re-use existing equipment at other sites or sell the units to other providers. If the equipment no longer has a useful life, we recycle or dispose of it appropriately.

Two European directives define how companies have to deal with hazardous waste. The Restrictions of Hazardous Substances (RoHs) defines which materials must not be used in the production of electrical and electronic equipment. Our purchasing guidelines specify that we should only purchase products that are in compliance with the statutory regulations. The Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive (WEEE) also explains how companies have to avoid and reduce electronic waste, as well as giving guidelines on how it can be disposed of properly. This directive places us under an obligation to take back mobile phones and accessories returned by our customers.

External service providers are almost exclusively responsible for the disposal of electronic waste. This type of waste is created especially in the context of expansion and maintenance of the network. It also arises when PCs and notebooks are replaced in offices or when equipment is taken back from customers. Last year, a total of some 138 tonnes of electronic waste was generated. 68.5 tonnes of this electronic waste was created in offices and shops, another 68.5 tonnes accumulated in the network and one tonne stems from our recycling programme for mobile phones. Further hazardous waste was also passed on to external service providers for recycling and disposal: Last year this included 1,444 fluorescent lighting tubes, 350 litres of oil1 and 9.44 tonnes of old batteries.