Today marks Global Recycling Day, emphasising the crucial role recycling plays in preserving our planet’s natural resources and promoting environmental responsibility. As an industry, we are committed to reducing e-waste and environmental impact by reusing, refurbishing, and recycling equipment. Ambitious goals have been put place by each of our operators to achieve this.

In line with this global awareness day, we wanted to spotlight these initiatives, here’s a snapshot of what each of them are doing:

EE

EE is playing its part in tackling environmental and recycling challenges through a range of initiatives. Its Trade-In scheme, encourages customers to trade in their old devices when upgrading in which they will be paid. 98% of the handsets received are refurbished and given a second life, with the remaining being securely recycled and prevented from going to landfill.  

To find out more about EE’s recycling initiative see: https://ee.co.uk/help/mobile/upgrade/trade-in-my-old-device  

Three

Three is helping to beat plastic pollution through its Three Recycle scheme. Customers can sell their used handsets, tablets and wearables regardless of what network they’re on. Once received, devices are passed on to third parties to reuse or recycle, ensuring they don’t end up in landfill.  

To find out more about EE’s recycling initiative see: https://www.three.co.uk/blog/recycle-and-donate-your-old-phone  

Virgin Media O2

Through its O2 Recycle programme, Virgin Media offers a similar buyback service, since its launch, the scheme has paid out more than £320 million and sustainably recycled 3.8 million devices with zero going to landfill. In 2022, O2 Recycle paid over £36 million to consumers for their devices, processing more than 950 handsets daily. Of these, 92% were refurbished and resold, while the rest were broken down for raw materials, ensuring no tech ended up in landfill.

To find out more about Virgin Media O2’s recycling initiative see: https://news.virginmediao2.co.uk/o2-recycle-saves-more-than-250000-devices-from-landfill/  

Vodafone UK

Vodafone UK has a range of initiatives to help tackle e-waste. These include free battery replacements and a total care warranty, which encourages the reuse and extends the life of working devices. Old smartphones or tablets can also be donated to The Great British Tech Appeal, where devices are given to someone in need along with free data, calls and texts. For every phone that’s either donated to the Great British Tech Appeal or traded-in, Vodafone donates £1 to WWF conservation projects across the world.  

ITo find out more about Vodafone’s recycling initiative see: https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/deals-and-offers/refurbished-devices/recycling-weee-regulations  

Ends

‍