Find out how you can make money from mobile phone recycling.
With mobile phones being upgraded so rapidly, most of us will have at least one unused phone sitting forgotten in the bottom of a drawer. You may think these discarded handsets are worthless, consigned to the clutter scrap-heap, but they can in fact earn you cash if you recycle them.
Mobile phone recycling means that you’ll not only earn a little extra money, you’ll also be doing your bit for the environment. Many phones contain noxious substances which can be harmful to the environment if disposed of with the rest of your daily rubbish.
So how can you get rid of your old mobile safely and earn some cash for your trouble? We show you how this can be done.
How do I earn cash for my phone?
The easiest and most effective way to do this is to send your old mobile to a web-based phone recycling company. There are several of these operating on the web, and each is likely to quote you a different price for your phone – so be sure to check a few different ones before settling on a price.
On each site you’ll be asked to enter the make and model of your phone, at which point you’ll be automatically offered a price. This can be anything from £5 to £200, but bear in mind that newer models will be worth more than older models. Similarly your phone will be worth more if it is still functioning, can be switched on, and has the minimum amount of nicks and scratches. You’re also more likely to be offered a higher price if your phone still has its original battery.
If you accept the price given, you’ll be sent a prepaid envelope. Simply pop your old phone in the envelope and send it back, then wait for your cheque to arrive in the post.
Which sites offer this service?
The following mobile phone recycling sites are a good place to start. When visiting each use the same method of entering your phone’s make and model to find out how much it could be worth. For example, an LG KC910 Renoir could be worth up to £85 when recycled through Envirofone. Some of these sites, such as SimplyDrop.co.uk, even offer to recycle your old digital cameras and batteries.
- Envirofone
- Fonebank
- Love 2 Recycle
- Mazuma Mobile
- Mobile2Cash
- Mobile Phone Xchange
- Money 4 Ur Mobile
- Mopay
- Banana Green
- Simply Drop
You also have the option of using one of the mobile phone recycling comparison sites, such as MobilePhoneRecycling.co.uk, that pick up a number of quotes for you. However, do remember that these sites will not necessarily obtain quotes from all the sites on the web, so they aren't guaranteed to find you the best price.
When you have found a site that offers a price you are happy with, simply follow the online instructions to send your mobile to them in the provided prepaid envelope. You may want to send the phone by recorded delivery, as this will ensure it reaches its destination safely (most sites don’t take responsibility for non-delivery). Make sure to take this potential extra cost into account when weighing up how much you will get for your phone overall.
Make sure that it is switched off, the SIM card is removed, the battery charged if possible, and remember to delete any personal data before sending it. You can also remove security PIN codes by selecting ‘reset factory settings’ from the phone’s menu.
When the mobile phone recycling company receive your phone they will check that it is in an acceptable condition, then send you a cheque for its worth in the post. Most phones will pass testing without a problem, but if your phone is rejected, you will usually be offered a reduced price or have it returned for free.
Some other companies are joining the trend for mobile phone recycling but offer vouchers or points to spend in-store rather than cash. For example, Boots allow you to earn up to 5000 Advantage points by recycling your phone with them, which you can then spend in-store. Tesco too offers Clubcard points or Giftcards when you send your phone to them to be recycled.
If your phone is an older model you are less likely to be offered cash in exchange for it – however, most sites will still offer to recycle your phone for you. Sites that offer loyalty points are likely to still give you points even if your phone is an older model.
What will happen to my phone?
You may be curious to know why these mobile phone recycling companies are keen to hand you cash in return for your handset. Most mobiles are sold and re-used abroad after they have been tested, often in developing countries, and can be used in place of landlines where these are not readily available.
Even if your phone is too outdated to be of much use, it can be broken down and its parts will be sold on. In the case of your phone having no useful functionality, these recycling companies will usually dispose of it in an environmentally friendly way for you.
Therefore there is nothing to lose by sending your mobile off to be recycled when you can get a cash payment in return, or at the very least the peace of mind that your phone has been disposed of safely.
