Find places to recycle phones near you
Working and broken mobile phones, smartphones and their chargers.
Other names include handsets, mobile phones, smartphones.
Find a nearby place for phones
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Collection and take-back services
Use these services if no nearby place lists phones.
How to recycle phones
Back up your data, sign out, remove the SIM and reset the phone. Working phones may have reuse or trade-in value.
Prepare phones for recycling
- Back up needed data
- Remove SIM and memory cards
- Reset the device and remove account locks
What must stay out
Keep these items separate and check the site rules before you travel.
- A reset may fail if the phone is damaged
- Swollen or damaged batteries need a safe route
- Postal services set battery and packaging rules
Types of site to check
These site types can list phones. Each provider sets its own limits and access rules.
- Recycling centres and tips
Council recycling centres accept many types of household waste. Check the council rules for booking, permits, proof of address, vehicle access and charges before travel.
- Charity donation points
Charity shops, donation banks and collection services for clean, safe and saleable goods. Each charity decides what its local shops can accept.
- Reuse shops and centres
Sites that accept usable household items for resale or redistribution. They can be at recycling centres or run as separate community projects.
- Electrical recycling points
Drop-off points for electrical items with a plug, battery or cable. Accepted item sizes vary by site.
- Reuse hubs and shops
Sites that accept usable household goods for resale, repair or redistribution. Local teams decide which items they can take.
- Household waste recycling centres
Council-run sites that accept many types of household recycling and waste. Local rules can cover booking, proof of address, vehicle permits and charges for some DIY waste.
- Retailer take-back points
Shops and delivery services that take back selected products or packaging. Rules depend on the product, the retailer and whether you are buying a replacement.
Related item guides
- Household batteries
Portable batteries including AA, AAA, button cells and rechargeable battery packs.
- Electrical items
Household products with a plug, battery, cable or crossed-out wheelie bin symbol.
- Laptops and computers
Personal computers, laptops, tablets, monitors, keyboards and related household equipment.
- Vapes and e-cigarettes
Disposable and rechargeable vaping devices with built-in batteries and electrical parts.
Questions about recycling phones
- Where can I recycle phones?
- Enter your postcode in the local finder to search recycling centres and tips and charity donation points and reuse shops and centres and electrical recycling points and reuse hubs and shops and household waste recycling centres and retailer take-back points near you. Check the provider page before you travel because item lists and access rules can change.
- How should I prepare phones for recycling?
- Back up your data, sign out, remove the SIM and reset the phone. Working phones may have reuse or trade-in value.
Sources for this guide
- Consumer products: recycling batteries and electrical waste
Office for Product Safety and Standards · Reviewed 14 August 2026
- Take back waste in store
GOV.UK · Reviewed 14 August 2026