Analysis of lifespan of mobile phones: Estimation of EoL mobile phones generation

Mobile phones are the most sold EEE and at the same time one of appliances with the lowest collection rate. To improve this situation, it is necessary to assess the amount of generated end of life (EoL) mobile phones. We conducted the lifespan calculation using Weibull distribution for the year 2008 based on sampling of 32,566 EoL mobile phones, which is unique to the Czech Republic. Average lifespan (mean value) was estimated to be 7.99 years. Average usage time of mobile phones was estimated 3.63 years, average storage or reuse time was 4.35 years. In the years 1990-2000, only 45 thousands of EoL mobile phones have been generated in the Czech Republic, while in the years 2000-2010 the number grew to 6.5 million pieces and it is estimated that in the years 2010-2020 about 26,3 million pieces will be generated.