Old devices can be sent to O2 Recycle through five easy steps (Image: Getty)
Brits could get up to £541 in cash or credit for recycling their old phone, tablet or other tech through O2. Not only could your pocket benefit from sending old tech off for reuse or recycling, but the planet can too, as precious metals inside devices are recirculated.
Gina Mutonono, senior manager mobile repair, recycling and sustainability at Virgin Media O2, told the Daily Express: “Millions of people across the UK are holding onto old smartphones and gadgets without realising they could be worth hundreds of pounds. The average Brit could earn up to £541 from unwanted tech – including smartphones, tablets, earbuds and games consoles – sitting unused in drawers, cupboards and attics.”
On its website, O2 Recycle outlines five steps to sell a phone or device, including firstly choosing which device to send in. The company recycles not just phones, but tablets, laptops, consoles, watches and earbuds. The second step involves getting a quote for the device and, if happy with the amount, confirming it.
You can post old devices to O2 Recycle or take them into one of the firm’s branches (Image: Getty)
Popular brands traded in include iPhone 14, which can get up to £171. Other potential prices see the iPhone 13 fetch up to £131, iPhone 14 Pro Max £268 and iPhone 15 Pro Max £342, according to the O2 Recycle website.
Devices with cracks, scratches of even major faults can be traded in, though damage affects their trade in value.
O2 Recycle says even if a device cannot be reused efforts will still be made to extract and repurpose “every valuable material”.
The third step to recycling an old device is backing up any of your data, charging it and removing any locks.
You can then post it to O2 Recycle, using your own packaging or a free pack provided by telecoms giant. Local O2 shops will also give quotes and send it on to be reused or recycled.
Controllers, docking stations and power leads for laptops and consoles need to be included, but any other device can be traded in without chargers or accessories.
Once O2 receives a device, it makes sure all personal data is wiped. It is then re-sold by O2 or via its partner, the global tech support company, Likewize.
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For devices that can’t be reused, O2 Recycle sends them to Relove Technology, who extract anything of value for repurposing.
Quotes for returned devices are “locked in” for seven days, but if one arrives at O2 after this, an updated price is given.
Other tech accepted is Samsung Galaxy S series devices, as far back as the S8. A series of devices as far back as the A8 – including Flip and Fold variants – are also taken.
Google Pixel and Pixel Fold devices as far back as the Pixel 3 can also be sold on to O2 Recycle. Most iPhones are accepted, including Plus, Pro and Pro Max models as far back at the iPhone 7.
Ms Mutonono said: “By making it easier to pass on unwanted tech, O2 Recycle helps people put money back in their pockets while giving more technology a second life where it can be used again by someone else.”
O2 Recycle says it has saved over four million devices from becoming waste and helped Brits make a few quid.