So what happens when you recycle your mobile phone? Where will it go? Will it be recycled at all?  You don’t need to worry about your old mobile just ending up in landfill because there are laws above these mobile phone companies stating that they are obliged to recycle every single phone that is sent to them. No phone is allowed to just be tossed into landfill. So what does happen to your mobile phone? There are  two options for recycled mobile phones: recycled or refurbished.

1. What will happen to my phone if it is recycled?

It might surprise you to find out that mobile phones are actually stuffed full with precious metals. In an average mobile phone, there is 0.2gms of gold. So imagine how much gold there would be in 1000 mobile phones! It would add up to a very profitable amount. Metals such as gold and platinum are used in mobile phone circuit boards as A) they are really good conductors and B) they’re hardwearing and don’t wear out with constant use. Mobile phone recycling companies take advantage of this as there is money in scrap elements. It is mostly broken mobile phones that have their elements stripped and smelted down. Once the precious metals have been smelted down, they can be reused in other electronic gadgets such as televisions and laptops.

2. What will happen to my phone if it is recycled?

If a phone has a cracked screen or dented casing but it is in full working condition, then it goes to be refurbished. This means that the external parts that are damaged will be replaced. The repairer will carry out a series of performance tests on the phone to check that the inside technology is working properly and then the phone is ready for the next step.

Usually this next step is being sold on. Many groups of people buy refurbished mobile phones, from mobile networks to the biggest buyer of refurbished mobiles: Charities.

• What will a charity do with my refurbished phone?

Most of the charities in the UK make use of recycling scheme’s to raise money. The charity ‘phones for safety’ buys reconditioned phones and changes them further so that a touch of any button puts the owner through on a direct line to the police and emergency services. These phones are known as ‘999 only’ phones and act as personal alarms for the victims of domestic abuse and stalking so that they can reach the police as quickly as possible and as easily as possible during an emergency.

Charities that are concerned with developing countries such as Africa and India buy refurbished mobile phones and sell (for a minimal price) or donate them to organisations in those countries. Mobile phone coverage is growing in developing countries and as it does, so does the market for mobile phones.

Almost all charities accept old products such as ink cartridges and mobile phones for recycling but don’t offer cash in return. Old phones given to charities are treated in the same way that a recycling company would treat them, they are mostly smelted down and the precious metals retrieved. These precious metals and then sold on and the profits will make an average of £5 for the charity.

• Mobile phone networks.

Reconditioned phones are just like brand new phones and so mobile phone companies buy them and sell them on. Reconditioned phones are always sold at a lesser price to what a brand new handset would cost but they’re exactly the same as a new handset in quality terms.