Recycling of old handsets

[LuciaAngel]

Hello everyone,

I upgraded today, after having tremendous issues with a Samsung Flip 4 from about April this year.

When in the EE shop (Oxford St), I was assured that if I go on the website, there's a capacity to recycle old hansets.

I have quite a stash, dating back to 2010 ish, so would like them to be recycled and potentially used again.

This appears a tremendous waste of money from the perspective of dedicated EE users, who contract their handset and are not required to return them.

With the discussion of the digital divide in society during and post Covid, surely old working handsets are a useful resource.

If EE does recycle, can someone please point me in the right direction, if not I'll hand them in at the local Vodafone store.

Lucy

[Northerner]

Hi @LuciaAngel 

https://recycle.ee.co.uk/

Sadly old handsets are a security risk as they tend to lack the updates, equally apps don't work as support is dropped for older firmware . At best these devices are stripped down for the minerals and gold. 

Make sure and old devices are wiped and factor resets.

Thanks 

[Chris_B]

@LuciaAngel  Your not required to return anything you’ve purchased.  The contract includes the purchase of the handset.   You can however do a trade in and some of the devices that can be traded in will get you a discount on the monthly cost of the new tariff.  

[Matt_124]

If you want to safely dispose of the equipment and are not expecting cash in return see here for what EE are obligated to do when you get a new device: https://ee.co.uk/help/orders/disposing-of-your-old-electronic-equipment

You could also call your local EE store and ask in regard to the WEEE Regulations and their rules for acceptance of electronic waste, to see what they say and whether they might be able to accept them.

[zulu17]

A very relevent topic

Looking back at what this newsroom article from EE/BT in 2021 announced

https://newsroom.ee.co.uk/ee-unveils-the-future-of-retail-in-the-community/

""Sustainability is at the heart of the services offered in the new store, customers can use the on-site repair centre to give a new lease of life to Apple, Google, and Samsung devices within 2 hours. And to extend the life of devices further, the store offers a free device MOT on any phone or tablet in less than 10 minutes. To help reduce the tonnes of e-waste sent to landfill every year, there is a recycling service for old handsets and accessories. For each handset or tablet recycled, EE will donate £10 plus the value of the device to its charity partner Home-Start* or offer money off the customer’s new EE contract.

So for small items like phones and tablets do EE still offer this service in their shops and if not why has it been discontinued ?

[Matt_124]

The stores I have visited have featured signage in regard to the WEEE Regulations so most of the retail estate should be accepting of electronic waste for customers, especially in cases where they have taken a new phone and want to get rid of an old one that is collecting dust.