You could pocket £450 by sending your unwanted gadgets to O2.
Yes, that's the average value of unused devices found forgotten in UK households, according to research by Virgin Media O2. With the Christmas shopping season fast approaching, the extra cash could really come in handy — making it the perfect time to transform these unloved gadgets into cash via the O2 Recycle scheme.
O2 Recycle, which is open to anyone — not just those who hold a phone or SIM contract with the brand — accepts a swathe of devices, including smartphones, tablets, wearables, earbuds, laptops, and gaming consoles. The process is straightforward: visit the O2 Recycle website, enter the details of your unwanted device, and immediately receive an estimate.
Once you've posted your gadget, O2 will assess the condition and pay the agreed amount into your bank account, within three to five days. Alternatively, you can opt for credit towards a new device from O2.
If your device is broken, O2 will ensure it's recycled responsibly — with zero components sent to landfill.
On average, O2 Recycle offers the following payouts —
Even if you don't hit the £450 figure that Virgin Media O2's research suggests is sat gathering dust in most homes nationwide, sending one or two items from the above list could provide a welcome boost to your festive finances this Christmas.
O2 Recycle has processed almost four million devices and paid-out £347 million to Britons since it was launched back in 2009. Last year alone, O2 Recycle processed nearly 180,000 devices — preventing these consumer electronics from filling landfills.
According to UN's General E-Waste Monitor, there was a collosal 62 billion kilograms of e-waste generated worldwide in 2022. These broken or discarded consumer electronics could fill 1.55 million trucks — enough to line-up across the length of the Earth's equator.
O2 Recycle will show the estimate for your unwanted gadgets immediately, although the final transfer to your bank account depends on a thorough assessment from the team at the recycling centre
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As well as earning some extra cash, participating in O2 Recycle — or any other popular recycling scheme — you'll also help to reduce that environmental burden. Virgin Media O2 is further promoting eco-consciousness by making the Pixar film WALL-E available to stream at no cost on Virgin TV on Channel 100 on October 14 — which has been named International E-waste Day.
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Speaking about O2 Recycle, Nicola Green from Virgin Media O2 commented: "Brits are sitting on a treasure trove of unused tech worth almost £450 which could earn them much needed extra cash in time for Christmas while also reducing e-waste."
