How to recycle your mobile phone - a quick guide

We want selling or recycling your phone to be quick and painless - and that's why we've made it as easy as possible with our site.

We want selling or recycling your phone to be quick and painless - and that's why we've made it as easy as possible with our site.

CompareMyMobile gathers up offers on hundreds of phones and gadgets from dozens of recyclers that are ranked by how much they will pay for your device or their Trustpilot Review rating so you can compare them side by side. All you need to do is type your device's name into the search bar above, and when you spot a deal you like, we'll take you directly to the buyer to get selling.

All the companies we show offers from have been carefully vetted by us, and we work with them to make sure you get satisfactory service when you sell.

Many of them buy all sorts of gadgets - from smartphones, to old-school Nokia feature phones, to tablets, Kindles, laptops, MP3 players, cameras, and more.

Read more about CompareMyMobile, who we are, and how we operate in our About Us page.

How to recycle your phone in three easy steps

Recycling your phone with CompareMyMobile is easy peasy. Here's how it's done.

Use the search bar at the top of the page to enter the name, brand, or model of your device.

2. Compare prices

Select your phone's condition and the network it's locked to, then take a look at all the current offers and compare your options. Spot one you like? Just give it a click.

3. Send it off

Enter your details, and the recycler will send you a postage pack to send your phone off in. As soon as they receive it, the cash is yours! You'll be paid by either bank transfer, PayPal, cheque, or voucher - whichever one you prefer. Some also give you the option to donate the fee directly to charity.

FAQ

Can I sell a broken phone?

Yes, you can. Just make sure you select 'broken' from the filters on the price comparison table so you get accurate results. Broken or damaged devices usually sell for less than working ones, and even less than brand new ones.

Not sure if your phone counts as broken or not? See our guide to selling broken phones.

Can I sell a lost, barred, or stolen device?

No, you can't. When the recycler gets hold of your phone and checks its unique IMEI number, they'll send it back - or contact the police - if it turns out to be barred or stolen. You won't get any money for it.

Read more in our guide to barred and stolen phones.

What happens to recycled phones?

It depends on the phone, and what condition it's in when it reaches the recycler.

Some phones, especially newer models, are refurbished and sold on. This means they're checked over, get any dodgy parts replaced, fixed up, and generally given a new lease of life.

Other phones will simply be recycled. All their parts are extracted - some bits will go into other refurbished mobiles, while others will be separated out, ready to be melted down. Your phone contains things like plastic, platinum, gold, and nickel, which can all be re-used.

Is recycling my phone better than throwing it away?

Miles better, yes. Tossed-out phones fill up landfills and ultimately cause serious damage to the environment. They contain a lot of chemicals and toxins such as beryllium, mercury, lead, and cadmium - and when these get out, it's incredibly dangerous to the surrounding land, air, and wildlife.

Besides, you can get money if you recycle it. You can't get paid for just throwing it away.

Want to know more?See our full FAQ.