The days of drawers full of chargers for mobile phones you no longer use could soon be over after manufacturers agreed to use a universal model.

Ten companies including Apple, LG, Motorola, Nokia and Sony Ericsson have signed up to offer the charger, which will be based on a Micro-USB connector. Currently, when consumers buy a mobile phone they are provided with a new charger even if the old one still works.

The European commission had asked companies to work on harmonising chargers in the EU in a bid to cut down on waste. It said unused chargers amounted to thousands of tonnes of electronic waste a year and was threatening legislation unless a voluntary deal was reached.

The EU industry commissioner, Günter Verheugen, said he was pleased with the agreement, which would make life much simpler for consumers.

"They will be able to charge mobile phones anywhere from the new common charger. This also means considerably less electronic waste because people will no longer have to throw away chargers when buying new phones," he said.

Talks between the phone firms and commission officials produced a "Memorandum of Understanding" indicating that the first generation of "inter-chargeable" mobile phones will reach the EU market from 2010.

The agreement says that in future harmonised chargers will improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption. They should also give mobile users an "easier life", cutting costs by removing the likelihood of needing a new charger to go with a new mobile phone, and by foregoing the need to hunt all over the house for the correct charger.

Audrey Gallacher, customer relations expert for the UK consumer watchdog Consumer Focus, welcomed the move. "Industry has chosen to do the right thing for their customers by introducing a common phone charger," she said.

"This is a sensible solution to an everyday gripe for mobile phone users, which will reduce frustration and confusion for consumers as well as cutting down on waste products."

Conservative MEP Malcolm Harbour said common sense had prevailed. "This agreement will also encourage more chargers to be recycled, preventing electronic waste. Mobile phone companies should consider whether a new charger is now needed with every handset if there is a possibility that an old one can be recycled.

"It is particularly welcome that the commission was able to reach agreement with the industry without introducing new regulation."

The new charger will only work with data enabled phones but the commission said it expected most phones bought from 2010 will be compatible.