Cool thanks for clarifying you haven't seen much about a drugs angle also!
Drug dealers, who operate primarily through mobile phones, will also be some of the most apt at disposing of any evidence. Also when you're picking up drugs, you would typically oblige to certain requests like "turn your phone" off. I can't remember what the specifics were to the Reading stuff, whether it was switch your phone off, park in a certain place or don't wear hoodies - can't quite remember but they definitely had them, and would turn people away if they didn't comply. I realize it's probably a bit strict, but in some capacity, I think it exists, to oblige certain requests of your, even just "a", drug dealer.
In fact, I have an own personal experience of someone saying they can sort me out something if they use my phone. That person and my phone were never seen again... I did try to persue it at the time, but it became clear if I did so I'd probably be looking down the barrel of a gun, so left it. Clearly the phone in Corrie's case has been quite well disposed of, perhaps even expertly so. And even if it was never in the bin lorry, and was perhaps say thrown out the window, there has been plenty of time for the person that did that to return, search, find and make sure it's disposed of properly.