Millions of Smartphones Lie Dormant Across Europe, Representing a €1.1 Billion Resource Pool
BRUSSELS – A staggering 642 million unused smartphones are gathering dust in homes across Europe, with less than one-tenth being recycled, according to recent data. This represents a loss of approximately €1.1 billion in valuable materials like gold, tin, and cobalt, according to estimates from the Austrian research institute.
While many consumers hold onto old devices as backups or simply don’t bother with repair, the vast majority remain unused. In the Netherlands, figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics from November of last year show only 14 percent of people recycle their old smartphones, with over half storing them at home. Concerns about data privacy are a significant barrier, with many fearing their personal information isn’t secure during the recycling process.
“They are afraid that the data they have on it are not safe and that is why they will not hand it in,” explains Sharda Balgobind, spokesperson for Refurbed. “But if you do nothing with it, such a smartphone is only dusting, while a lot can still do with it.” refurbed and other experts recommend restoring phones to factory settings before recycling or resale.
The value of the materials within thes discarded devices is substantial. The Austrian research institute estimates the material value of old phones in the netherlands alone at around €44.5 million. “You suddenly have access to an unexpected gold mine. You can produce a lot of wedding rings of all that gold,” Balgobind added.
Experts suggest bringing phones older than three years to recycling points, while newer models can be refurbished and resold, keeping valuable materials in circulation. Increased consumer participation is key to boosting recycling rates and unlocking the potential of this untapped resource.
