How to recycle your smartphone

A survey by Virgin Media O2 and environmental charity Hubbub is showing growing public interest in recycling unwanted smartphones to support good causes.

These devices are often sitting gathering dust in a garage or drawers, when they can be put to good used by helping those in need who are facing digital exclusion.

But their research also shows confusion among the public as to how to practically donate their old devices to help charities, including those supporting some of society’s most vulnerable people, such as asylum seekers and those fleeing domestic violence.

“We know people in the UK want to do more to help communities in need, and with millions of unused phones stashed in drawers and garages, they’ve got the power to change lives by donating their devices,” said Virgin Media O2’s Chief Sustainability Officer Dana Haidan.

Here we look at their research and examine ways people can ensure their unwanted smartphones find a new home.

Growing interest in smartphone recycling

The survey carried out in 2024 by Hubbub and Virgin Media O2 found more than seven in ten people feel guilty for not doing more to support good causes and almost half of people say they are happy to pass on an item to a charity, if they know it will have a positive impact on someone’s life.

When asked specifically about rehoming phones, more than half want their old device to go to someone who needs it, while a similar proportion believe donating a device is better for the environment.

But many are unaware they can simply hand their device to a charity, who will safely swipe all data for piece of mind around security, and then refurbish it for its new home.

More than two in five people mistakenly believe that charities don’t accept smartphones that can be recycled to support people facing digital exclusion.

According to Ofcom there are around 1.5 million homes in the UK still without access to the internet.

This indicates the huge potential for recycling smartphones via charities, especially due to the large number of devices gathering dust at home.

The charity and tech firm’s research estimates there are 15 million unwanted devices buried in garages, drawers, and attics across the UK.

Hubbub Chief Executive Alex Robinson points out that amid this smartphone mountain in the nation’s homes “digital exclusion remains a significant issue for hundreds of thousands of people in the UK”.

Smartphone recycling schemes

Community Calling

Among the largest national charity smartphone recycling initiatives is Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub’s Community Calling scheme.

This recycles phones for among others domestic abuse survivors and disadvantaged communities. The scheme has already recycled 20,000 devices since it launched in 2020.

The scheme offers those wanting to donate their old smartphone the chance to sign up to receive a freepost envelope to send it. Phones must not have a cracked screen or back. Once delivered to the scheme, data is wiped and cleaned and they are delivered to someone in need, who also gets free data and support.

Social Box

Tech firm Social Box runs initiatives including putting IT into homeless centres, supplying devices to refugees and delivering e-learning.

It has a network of partners that provide donation box locations for people to donate their mobile phones, as well as laptops and games consoles, to Social Box so they can be refurbished and handed to those in need.

These are based in London and Glasgow and include Hammersmith Library, office sites run by Regus, and Age UK.

Before donating Social Box recommends that data is deleted and devices are reset to factory settings.

Social Box is looking for more companies to run donation collection points.

Fixy

Among local schemes is the Fixy project in Somerset, which is supported by Somerset Council and is one of more than 40 projects funded by Material Focus which runs the Recycle Your Electricals campaign.

Fixy runs a promotion van that travels to locations across the county supporting repair groups, promoting recycling and taking tech donations, including smart phones. It runs smart tech drop off points at sites that are easy to access.

Technology that is donated is given to community interest company Donate IT that wipes data, refurbishes devices and distributes to people in need, schools and community groups to help address digital poverty.

WeeeCharity

Cheshire based WeeeCharity recycles smartphones and other devices across the UK to donate to those in need or to resale back into the community. It also trains unemployed people and those with disabilities to recycle and repair devices to help with their employability.

It accepts donations at its site in Warrington and items can be sent by post too. WeeeCharity also runs a collection service for businesses and homes for items

Find out more about smartphone recycling

Our 2024 Digital Inclusion Summit revealed how charities can help can make the digital world a safer, happier, more inclusive place, from improving access to digital devices to demystifying cyber security. Click here to watch the session recordings for free.

Our report, ‘Digital inclusion in the UK charity sector’, uncovers charity practitioners’ attitudes towards digital inclusion, including the challenges charities face in reaching out to service users and how they are making the most of the digital technology they use. Click the link in the orange box below to download the report.

Our Digital Inclusion Hub features regular articles, podcasts, and webinars to help charities reach across the digital divide. Click here to learn more.