Top 5 Ways To Recycle Your Old Business Phones

Various estimates put the number of mobile phones gathering dust in drawers and cupboards in the UK alone, at between 75 and 125 million. On that basis, the number of unused mobiles across the EU must be astronomical. Next time your company presents you with the latest mobile, don't relegate your old one to the waste bin, think recycle. Here are five of the best ways to recycle your old business mobile phone, and help reduce your company's carbon footprint.

Sell your old phone

Why give it away when it can earn you some much needed cash. There are a growing number of internet companies prepared to pay good money for unwanted mobile phones. What you get will obviously depend on the make model and age of your phone.

To get the best price, shop around on comparison sites such as Sell my phone. For instance, internet companies are currently offering over £130 for selling a 16GB iPhone 6 in good condition and complete with charger. The phone obviously needs to be yours to sell, out of contract and preferably unlocked. Make sure any sensitive data such as bank details, phone numbers and addresses are removed. Most mobile shops will unlock your old phone for around £15 to £20. Of course there's nothing stopping you selling it privately.

Save on the monthly shopping bill

A great way to reduce the monthly shopping bill and keep your partner happy, is to visit retail food giant Tesco. Although they have their own mobile service, Tesco runs a handset recycling service for all makes of phone whether or not they have been on the Tesco network. Depending on the usual conditions, and type and model of the phone, Tesco pay in food vouchers plus Tesco GreenClub points which can be used to reduce your shopping bill. If you use their network, then you can choose airtime as the preferred payment method.

Family member or neighbour's birthday coming up

If your company has just provided you the latest smartphone, that 16GB iPhone 6 you've pushed to the back of the drawer could make a fantastic birthday or Christmas present for one of your older children, nephews, nieces or grandchildren. Personalise it with a new phone cover. Add a family picture for the opening screen, and download a couple of their favourite apps. It's always worth remembering that, while you might get the latest handset as a matter of course, others have been scouring the second hand columns for just that model sitting in your desk drawer.

Help support your kids school

Support Your School was set up to help children become more aware of the need to recycle. At the same time, the pupils help raise revenue for the school. Schools and parents need to sign up online and will receive a recycling pack, which gives them all the information they need to recycle for a year. For every printer cartridge which can be refilled and reused the school receives £1. For every mobile phone that can be refurbished and sold on, the school receives £3. It's a great scheme which can involve pupils, teachers and parents. In a time of austerity and cutbacks schools need all the help they can get to provide their pupils with what they require, and take the pressure off already overburdened parents.

Charity organisations will take old and broken phones

If you have a particular charity you subscribe to, pop in and ask if they take old phones – most do these days. If not, have a look online. Some charitable phone recycling companies will give you a trade-in price, and donate the amount to the charity of your choice. Donating to charity means the old phone you dispose of doesn't have to be the latest anything. Even if the phone isn't working but is recoverable, the handset can be refurbished and sold on to third world countries. Even old non-camera and broken mobiles are accepted by most charities. They are then passed on to companies who strip them, recycle the case, and remove any precious metals and rare earth elements to be used in the next generation of must have smartphones.