Nothing lasts forever - What to do with old cell phones?
Once you have your new (refurbished) smartphone in your hands, you will have to part with your old phone. But wait: don't just throw it in the nearest drawer, because it's far too good for that. We'll tell you six ways you can recycle your used phone or turn it into cash!
Danger: Under no circumstances should you dispose of your old smartphone in the household waste. This is not only extremely bad for the environment, as the battery contains highly toxic heavy metals, for example, but it is also a real waste, as it contains valuable raw materials that should definitely be recycled. Did you know that your cell phone contains around 30 precious metals, such as copper, aluminum, silver, palladium and even gold?
What to do with old cell phones? - The 6 best options
Selling is clear, but did you know that you can even use your old cell phone as a baby monitor replacement?
Option #1: Give joy!
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. Even if your old cell phone has a few scratches, there is sure to be someone who would still be happy with it. Swap it with friends or family for a bottle of your favorite wine or start a “free to give away” ad in one of the many Facebook groups - it won't be long before the first request comes flooding in.
Option #2: Make a new device out of it!
Put your SIM card in your new device and give your old phone a new purpose. Since you can access many apps and functions without a SIM card, you can easily turn it into an eReader, a baby monitor, a music player or a navigation device:
Music Player: Do you like listening to motivating music while you workout, but don't want to take your brand new smartphone with you to the gym? With some apps, like Spotify, you can download your favorite playlists and listen to them offline. If you have WiFi within range - even better!
Option #3: Return to provider
If your old cell phone was a gift from your ex and you just want to get rid of it quickly, your mobile phone provider is a good place to start. Most providers, such as Vodafone, Teléfonica (O2) or Deutsche Telekom, offer a take-back service. Simply throw it in one of the collection boxes in the shops or send it to your provider by post free of charge. Depending on the condition of your cell phone, the provider will refurbish your device or recycle the raw materials it contains.
Option #4: Return to the store
It's very similar when you hand in your old cell phone at an electronics store. Since July 24, 2016, it has been legally regulated that you can hand in your old cell phone directly to your (online) retailer. But be careful: Find out in advance whether your store offers this service, as it is often only possible in large stores with a minimum sales area of 400 square meters. The big players, such as MediaMarkt and Co., have recently even started installing EcoATM machines that allow you to easily exchange your old cell phone for a voucher card. This only works with devices that can still be switched on, but it's still a good option, as you can even get something for your old device.
Option #5: Donate to a good cause
If you don't want to give your old cell phone to friends or family, you can also donate it to a good cause. Non-profit organizations such as the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU), the German Environmental Aid Association (DUH) and We4Kids collect old devices:
- Nature Conservation Union (NABU): Together with Teléfonica, the Nature Conservation Association collects old cell phones, which it reprocesses and resells in collaboration with a recycling partner. The proceeds go to the NABU insect protection fund, for example. This way you can do something good for bumblebees, bees, etc.!
- German Environmental Aid: The German Environmental Aid also works with partners who specialize in recycling and reconditioning old cell phones. The proceeds are used to support numerous environmental and nature conservation projects.
- We4Kids: If you send your old device to the non-profit organization We4Kids, it will benefit the “Mobile Phones for Emergencies” project. The organization equips the preloved mobile phones with a prepaid card and gives them to children in need. Let children’s eyes light up!
There are countless other projects on the web that you can support with your old cell phone. Danger: Take some time and research providers and projects to check whether they are actually acting on a non-profit basis.
Option #6: Sell
If you ask yourself the question "What do I do with old cell phones?", the first thing that comes to mind is selling them. If your smartphone is still fully functional or perhaps even quite up-to-date, you can easily turn it into cash. Especially with iPhones and "newer" Android smartphones from major brands, you still have a good chance of making a decent profit. While you have good chances with more recent cell phones at online retailers or online marketplaces, the classic flea market is suitable for rarities and collector's items:
online retailers: Selling to an online retailer is particularly easy. They will check your device, send you a price suggestion and take care of everything else. The money will be in your account in no time - without any annoying buyer inquiries or annoying price negotiations!
Tips before selling your phone?
Whether you want to send in your old cell phones, donate them or return them to the store - before it's finally "time to say goodbye", you should consider the following four tips:
1. Back up content!
To avoid saying goodbye to your holiday photos, contacts and your most important notes, you should create a backup or transfer your data to an external memory card. This is particularly easy to do using the cloud or free programs such as Dropbox and Co.
2. Delete data!
Be sure to remove your SIM and memory cards from your old phone. You can then reset it to factory settings to delete all your data and files from the internal storage.
3. Stay original!
If you sell or give away your old cell phone, you should include all the accessories and the original packaging. This not only looks more reputable, but also saves the buyer the trouble of searching for important accessories such as charging cables, headphones, adapters, etc.
4. Send correctly!
Even if you sold your old device at a bargain price, you should always send it insured to be covered!
