If your phone is playing up or you are approaching the end of your contract, you may be wondering what to replace it with. But don’t forget to responsibly dispose of your current phone. Not only can many of its components be recycled but, in some cases, you could earn money by selling it to a company that will refurbish and resell it, extending its lifespan and keeping it out of landfill.

Which bits of phones can be recycled?

Mobile phones are predominantly made from recyclable materials such as plastic, metal and glass. In fact, 95% of the materials that make up your mobile phone can be recycled, so throwing it in the bin is absolutely the wrong thing to do with it.

Where can you recycle a mobile phone?

Many retailers will recycle your old phone for you when you upgrade or buy a replacement handset from them. Alternatively, you could wipe your data from the phone  and donate it to a charity shop to resell. Finally, you can drop your mobile phone into the small electrical bin at your local household recycling centre for it to be responsibly disposed of.

How to keep your number

Most companies will issue you with a PAC code which will allow you to transfer your existing number to your new handset. Alternatively, you could opt for a new handset fitted with a multi network SIM which will allow you seamless 5G connectivity everywhere in the UK, piggybacking on various different data networks to guarantee continuous connectivity, wherever you are or go.

In some cases, it can be worth inserting a multi network SIM into your existing mobile phone to see whether the upgraded connectivity resolves your functional issues as this can save you the cost of replacing your handset. If, however, it transpires that your handset really is at end of life, your new SIM card can be transferred into your upgraded handset to deliver a superior experience in more ways than one.

It is always fun to embrace the next generation of technology. But make sure to recycle your old tech responsibly