- Virgin Media O2’s new research has found Brits could earn on average £638 per household with their unused tech via O2 Recycle.
- The findings reveal Brits’ bad habits as almost 8 in 10 admit to binning unwanted smartphones and tablets, with the average household missing out on nearly £400 in the last five years alone.
- It comes ahead of Global Recycling Day (18 March) where Virgin Media O2 is encouraging the nation to recycle, reuse or donate their unwanted tech to prevent e-waste.
Brits could earn more than £600 with their unwanted electricals, according to new data from Virgin Media O2.
The findings come ahead of Global Recycling Day (18 March) which reveals Brits’ shocking habits when disposing of their unused tech. 92 million electrical devices – including phones, tablets, smartwatches and gaming consoles – are estimated to have been thrown in the bin in the last five years, costing the average household £370.*
Despite almost two thirds (65%) of people saying they understand the environmental impact of throwing electronics in the bin, nearly 8 in 10 (79%) admit to discarding devices along with their general rubbish.
With Brits potentially missing out on average £638* per household from recycling unused gadgets stashed in their homes, Virgin Media O2 is calling on Brits to trade their trash for cash through O2 Recycle. The scheme is open to anyone regardless of their mobile operator, and accepts smartphones, tablets, wearables, earbuds, MacBooks and consoles.
Home is where the hoard is
The study also reveals Brits are a nation of hoarders, with almost three quarters (74%) saying they’ve held onto unwanted tech for at least five years or more.
However, 81% say they’d clear out their tech and recycle their unwanted devices if it could earn them cash, while a further 72% would donate their devices to someone in need.
With more than half of Brits (57%) preparing to carry out a spring clean, Virgin Media O2 is encouraging the nation to ‘do one thing’ with their abandoned tech to prevent it from ending up as electronic waste in landfill, where it could have a harmful impact on the planet.
Nicola Green from Virgin Media O2 said:
“Most homes have a drawer of doom that’s crammed with dozens of unused devices gathering dust, that could otherwise earn Brits cash or be reused by someone else.
“That’s why Virgin Media O2 is leading the way in tackling e-waste and helping people pass on their unwanted tech to help protect the planet.
“This includes O2 Recycle where Brits can make money for their old electronics, Community Calling where they can donate a smartphone to someone in need or taking a small device to an O2 store where it’ll be sent off for recycling”.
Reuse, repair, recycle
Virgin Media O2’s top tips for spring cleaning unwanted tech, include:
- Earn cash with O2 Recycle: People can trade in their unwanted tech for cash via O2 Recycle. They can send their devices to O2 Recycle with free postage where it will be data wiped, and then repaired, refurbished and resold, or recycled – with zero parts going to landfill.
Since it launched in 2009, the service has recycled more than four million devices and paid out over £350 million to consumers.
- Take unwanted tech to an O2 store: People can take their small electronics to any O2 Store where they will be recycled. Find your nearest store here.
- Rehome your old phone: People can donate their working unwanted smartphones to Community Calling programme, set up by Virgin Media O2 and environmental charity, Hubbub, where they can be given to someone in need. Devices are data wiped before they are rehomed with someone who needs it. Donate your unwanted smartphones via here.
- Return your kit: Virgin Media broadband customers can return their broadband hubs, set-top boxes, WiFi boosters and pods which can be reused, repaired or recycled. More here.
People can find out more about how to reduce their e-waste via here.
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