Recycle your old phone for a bit of extra cash

Got an old phone or two cluttering up a drawer at home? Here’s how to unlock value from your unwanted devices.

If you were lucky enough to be gifted a new phone, tablet or smartwatch over the festive period, it’s likely that your old device is currently languishing sadly in a drawer. And let’s be honest: even if you didn’t get a shiny new gadget for Christmas, you may still have a couple of old mobiles stuffed out of sight somewhere. Seven million smartphones replaced in 2022 are thought still to be cluttering up British homes, worth a staggering £500 million in total. When it comes to tech, Brits are collectively pretty rubbish at getting rid – even when we have no use for a device anymore.

But that doesn’t mean you should treat your unwanted devices as actual rubbish. Over 61 million tonnes of electronic waste was estimated to be discarded last year alone (more than the weight of the Great Wall of China), which is seriously bad for the environment.

Instead, recycle your old devices with O2 – and nab yourself some extra cash in the process. Read on to find out more about how it works.

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What is O2 Recycle?

It’s our eco-conscious platform where we make it unbelievably easy to recycle your old devices. Simply search for your smartphone on the O2 Recycle website, add to basket, and place your order via checkout. Then you just have to package up your device (remembering to upload any personal data to your preferred cloud system, and remove your sim or memory card first) and post it off to us. Here’s a bit more info about how O2 Recycle works. Added bonus: it’s open to everyone, not just O2 customers.

How does O2 reuse old devices?

We have a zero landfill policy, so the vast majority of phones we receive will be reused, repaired or recycled for parts. You can also play your part in protecting the environment by responsibly disposing of your device and accessory packaging. Find out more about the recycling symbols on our packaging and how to recycle these items.

Is O2 Recycle just for smartphones?

Nope. We’ll also recycle simple mobile phones, tablets, Apple AirPods and wearable electronic devices such as smartwatches. It’s exactly the same process – just type in your device model name, IMEI or serial number into the O2 Recycle website to make sure we accept your item. Unfortunately, we can’t recycle devices with no resale value, so if your device isn’t listed, we aren’t accepting them at the moment.

How can I make money from O2 Recycle?

Once we’ve received your device, we’ll pay you for it. The amount you’ll get depends on the model and condition. For example, a fully working Samsung Galaxy S22 with 128GB storage could be worth up to £141.25 (as of 5 February 2024). While a fully working Apple iPhone 13 with 128GB storage could get you up to £175 (as of 5 February 2024). Don’t worry if yours is a bit battered – we’ll still take it if it’s broken. The money will reach your bank account within 3-5 working days. We can also use the recycle money to credit your O2 Device Plan, lowering your ongoing monthly payments. Just choose Device Plan Credit in the payment options section. Simple, sustainability-minded actions that make you some cash? We’re into it.