Samsung admits it still doesn't know what to do with 4.3 million dangerous Galaxy Note 7 handsets amid warnings of an 'environmental disaster

Samsung has admitted it is still 'reviewing options' to limit the potential environmental impact from the firm's discontinuation of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphones.

The remarks come after environmental group Greenpeace issued a statement earlier this week demanding the world's top smartphone maker find a way to reuse rare materials such as cobalt, gold, palladium and tungsten in the discontinued smartphones that Samsung is taking back.

Samsung in October permanently ended sales of the fire-prone Note 7 smartphones and is in the process of recalling them globally, and had sold 3.06 million of the phones to customers before they were pulled from the market. 

Samsung has admitted it is still 'reviewing options' to limit the potential environmental impact from the firm's discontinuation of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphones.

The remarks come after environmental group Greenpeace issued a statement earlier this week demanding the world's top smartphone maker find a way to reuse rare materials such as cobalt, gold, palladium and tungsten in the discontinued smartphones that Samsung is taking back.

Samsung in October permanently ended sales of the fire-prone Note 7 smartphones and is in the process of recalling them globally, and had sold 3.06 million of the phones to customers before they were pulled from the market. 

ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER 

However, experts warn that we have yet to devise a proper method for disposing of electronic devices.

Dumping them in landfills contaminates water supplies and the soil.

Although many believe recycling is the way to go, all of the raw materials cannot be recovered.

Experts suggest the best method we have is to fix and refurbish, which many firms choose as they can continue to make money with the same device. 

We recognize the concerns around the discontinuation of the Galaxy Note 7 and are currently reviewing possible options that can minimize the environmental impact of the recall in full compliance with relevant local environmental regulations,' Samsung said in a statement.

Greenpeace said 'Right now Samsung is considering dumping 4.3 million brand new Galaxy Note 7 phones following nearly 100 cases of exploding phones around the world. 

'That is equivalent to almost 730,000 kilograms of hi-spec technology! 

'While Samsung made the right call in taking their phones out of circulation to avoid more accidents or injuries, the question is now what are they going to do with this huge mountain of phones?

Greenpeace is calling on the global tech leader to see an opportunity in this crisis and show leadership. 

WHAT'S  INSIDE YOUR SMARTPHONE?

The hazardous ingredients of mobile phones have long been kept under wraps by manufacturers who are tight lipped about the recipes they use for their high-tech components.

Cobalt is also used in rechargable batteries found in many laptops, mobile phones and electric vehicles. 

HeathyStuff.org sampled 36 different mobile phones to see what lurks behind the sleek smartphone covers.

The Galaxy Note 7 has around 50 elements, but only about a dozen can be recovered through recycling - which means a major waste from a resource point. This is why many smartphone makers choose to refurbish and resell, rather than lose money by recycling them

The phones were completely disassembled and interior and exterior components were sampled by X-ray Fluorescence spectrometry - a process which determines the chemical composition of a material.

Each phone reportedly had either lead, bromine, mercury, cadmium, chlorine, or some combination of those chemicals. 

These hazardous substances can pollute throughout a product's life cycle, including when the minerals are extracted; when they are processed; during phone manufacturing; and at the end of the phone's useful life. 

The average smartphone contains up to 62 different types of metals and many are rare-earth metals. 

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