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Go to BasketRecycling your phone.
Recycling your phone.
Got an old phone that you’re not using? Why not recycle it at one of our Phone Shops, or trade it in and get some money back? We can help you find the best option for you.
We want to play our part in shaping a sustainable economy where there’s no electronic waste, and where reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling are the norm.
Drop-and-go phone recycling at our 500+ stores
It’s never been easier to recycle your old phone.
Just factory reset it and drop it off at any of our 500+ Phone Shops across the UK – we’ll handle the rest. You make a difference. We make it simple.
Trade in your old phone for money or a Tesco e-gift card
Assurant – our recommended trade-in partner – will give you an instant competitive offer for your phone, whatever condition it’s in. All you need to do is answer a few quick questions. It’s as easy as that.
Phone still working? Share the love with a family member
If your old phone is still working, you could always gift it to a loved one. And you could pair it with one of our great-value SIM only contracts or pay as you go SIMs.
Phone not working? No problem
If your old phone is not working, we may be able to repair it for you. Simply go to our device guides, find your phone manufacturer and model, select ‘Diagnose an issue’, and answer any questions. Once you’ve completed these steps, if your phone needs a repair, we’ll give you the option to book one.
And remember, even broken phones have value, so trading it in is an option, too.
Recycling other electrical and electronic items
When you buy a new electrical or electronic item from Tesco, you can give us your old one and we’ll recycle it for you. Just hand it in at the customer service desk at any large Tesco store within 28 days of buying your new item, showing proof of purchase. (If applicable, please remember to delete any data on your old item.)
You can also recycle your old electrical and electronic items at your local recycling centre.
Why are we doing this?
We want to play our part in shaping a sustainable economy where there’s no electronic waste, and where reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling are the norm.
We’re committed to offering recycling at our stores, as part of our environmental pledge to remove, reduce, reuse and recycle
Why reuse and recycle your phone?
WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, and it covers virtually everything powered by solar, a plug or battery.
Like all electrical and electronic equipment, mobile phones contain materials that, while harmless to start with, begin to break down and pollute the environment if they end up in landfill.
By reusing and recycling your old phone, you can give it a new lease of life.
Did you know...
45% of UK households have up to 5 electronic devices that they do not use.
And of these, 82% have no plans to recycle or sell their devices after they stop using them.*
The production of electronics consumes energy and requires precious and rare metals, which need to be mined, and are limited in supply. A new smartphone can have a carbon footprint of over 75kgs. The biggest part of this comes from its manufacture.**
By reusing and repairing our old devices, or buying refurbished devices, we can significantly reduce these environmental impacts ** And by recycling end-of-life devices, we can recover materials that can be used to make new products.
*Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), January 2019
**French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME), September 2022 (see page 63 of the report for the estimated environmental impacts)
What happens to my phone if I recycle it?
We send it to our specialist recycling partner, and they check if it can be reused. If it can be reused, it’s then prepared for distribution and reuse.
If it cannot be reused, the small amounts of precious metals (such as gold and silver) and other metals (such as copper, lithium and cobalt) are removed, so they can be used in the production of new metal products or batteries.
Any plastics are also recovered and recycled, where possible.
Look out for the crossed-through wheelie bin symbol
You’ll find this displayed on the back of any electrical and electronic items, including phones, where WEEE applies (see Why reuse and recycle your phone? above).
It’s there to remind us not to throw these old items in the bin, where they could end up in landfill and cause damage to the environment, but to make sure they’re recycled safely instead.
