thanks to Martin Dodge for this...
talk about "unintended consequences"
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Toilet-disposed mobiles menace Helsinki's sewers
Tech down the pan
By Jan Libbenga
Published Wednesday 16th November 2005 12:52 GMT
More and more mobile phones are turning up in the sewage system of
the Helsinki Metropolitan area, according to Helsinki Water, which
serves over one million households. It's not known if the phones are
purposely or accidentally disposed of, but with 4.8m mobile users in
Finland, it's reasonable to expect a certain number of toilet-related
mobile incidents.
Helsink Water didn't supply exact numbers, but dropping mobiles down
the loo is pretty common elsewhere too. In the UK alone, as estimated
600,000 mobiles are flushed every year. As mobile phones get smaller
and smaller, this number will undoubtedly increase, although dropping
a cell phone down the pan is still only number six on a list of
mobile phone accidents compiled by Swedish retailers. Most mobiles
apparently come a cropper as a result of tight jeans.
At the sewage treatment plant in Viikinmäki in Finland, one thousand
tons of solid waste, equalling 200 truckloads, is collected every
year. Apart from mobile phones, false teeth, toys, cameras and even
torches are found.
Those misplaced items are difficult to remove and will eventually
cause system blockages, environmental manager Yrjö Lundström warned
newspaper Helsinki Sanomat today. According to Helsinki Water, annual
waste treatment fees are increasing as a result of the rubbish found
in Finnish sewers. ®
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