Mobile phone recycling UK: Guide to disposing of old phones

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mobile recycling

Smartphones and mobile phones are upgraded so often these days that most people probably have an old handset or two hidden away in a drawer at home. Mobile phones actually contain many different materials including plastic and metal which can be recycled. In the UK, there are actually many ways to recycle your old mobile phone. In this guide, we’ll look at your options, and what you can do to help the environment and do your bit in the battle against climate change.

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Recycle old phones: How to dispose of them?

According to a study by the Royal Society of Chemistry, there are around 40 million old and unused gadgets in our homes - including mobile phones. Indeed, more than four in 10 (45%) households in the UK have five or more gadgets that could be recycled.

Throwing them into landfill would be damaging to the environment as elements such as plastic take thousands of years to break down. And according to forgerecycling.co.uk, up to 80% of a mobile phone handset is recyclable.

We’ll take a look in more detail at the options available to you when it comes to recycling your mobile phone, but these are just some of them:

  • Take it to a mobile phone or electronics store;
  • Donate it;
  • Sell it;
  • Repurpose it.

Erase your data before recycling your phone!Before you actually recycle your phone you should ensure you have wiped any data and backed up any files you need. To ensure your personal information isn’t accessed by anyone else, there are a few things you should do before getting rid of your old phone. This includes: removing any SIM cards, deleting all accounts and bank card information on your phone, restoring the phone to factory settings.

Where to recycle your old mobile phone in the UK?

As mentioned previously, there are many ways to recycle your old mobile phone. In this section, we’ll more in detail at each of the options available to you so you can choose which is best.

Take it to a phone or electronics store

mobile phone recyling

Many phone stores across the UK will accept old mobile handsets as part of a trade-in programme. Check with your network provider and see where your nearest store is. The trade-in deals typically involve either selling you a new mobile (with a discount for the one you have traded in) or attempting to get you to change your tariff. Either way, your old phone is likely to be reconditioned and find a new owner, or be disposed of properly if it does not work.

For owners of Apple products, you can take advantage of the Apple Renew programme, in which the tech giant will give you store credit or an Apple Gift Card which can be used toward buying new products.

Take it to your nearest waste recycling centre

Electronic items (mobile phones, tablets, televisions and computers) and white goods (fridges, microwaves, freezers) are not included as part of the kerbside recycling collection. Because they contain various materials that can be recycled, they need to be disposed of properly - and your local council can help.

You have a couple of options available:

  1. Search online for ‘mobile phone recycling near me’ and take your handset, along with any other devices you want to get rid of, to your local recycling centre. Staff on site will tell you where to leave each item;
  2. If you have large items to dispose of, along with your mobile phone, you can call your local council and arrange a day and time for them to pick up the items from your home.

Mobile phone recycling charity: Where can I take it?

If you want to help others in need, there are many charities in the UK that accept old mobile phones that can be recycled or resold. Some examples include:

  • Oxfam: One of the largest charities in the UK, Oxfam accepts working and non-working phones. The phones that work are given to people across the world who wouldn’t otherwise have access to one to help them improve communications, or donated to populations recovering from disasters such as floods or earthquakes, so they can keep in contact with loved ones and emergency services.
  • WaterAid: This charity focuses on providing clean water, decent toilets, and access to basic, essential hygiene, for people in poverty around the world. They have a scheme in which you can donate your old mobile phone, which WaterAid then sells or recycles, with the money funding their worthy causes.
  • Local charities, community groups, and churches: It is not just large charities that accept old mobile phones. You should check with your local, smaller charities and community groups, or even churches. Across the UK, these types of organisations and groups are almost always willing to accept old devices as they can make a huge difference in fundraising efforts for their projects.

British Heart Foundation mobile phone recyclingFor the past 10 years, the British Heart Foundation and The Recycling Factory have been working together to help people get rid of their old mobile phones and electronic goods while also ensuring funds go to a worthy cause. Since the start of their partnership in 2012, the Recycling Factory has donated more than £165,000 to BHF.

Mobile phone recycling for cash

Another option available to you should you be looking to recycle your old mobile phone is to sell it. While your first thought may be Gumtree or Ebay, in the UK, there are actually a number of companies dedicated to buying old phone handsets from you so they can be repurposed and reused, or recycled.

Some of the options available to you are:

mobile phone recycling for cash
  1. Compare and Recycle: This comparison site gives you details of the best price for mobile phone recycling. You simply give details about the phone you want to get rid of and what condition it is in, and they will search around for the best deal for you.
  2. Envirofone: One of the more established companies dedicated to mobile phone recycling, they give you an estimate of how much your old handset is worth. The process is simple as they also send you the envelope for you to post the phone. Once it has been assessed, they pay you the agreed price.
  3. Fonebank: Similar to Envirofone, Fonebank has been around for many years and has a reputation for paying fair prices for old mobile phones.

Broken mobile phone recycling: Is that possible?

Even if your old mobile phone is broken and no longer works, you can still recycle it - and should do. Even if it is no long able to be repaired, there are many parts of a phone can be recycled, including:

  • Metals in the processors and components;
  • Glass and plastic on the screen and casing.

Don’t forget that it is not just the old mobile phone that can be recycled. According to Environmental Agency (EA), in 2018, just 12.5% of e-waste was recycled, meaning many items ended up in landfill. Your old phone chargers and cables can all be recycled via the same methods as your old phones themselves.