O2 recycles old handsets

O2 HAS LAUNCHED a service where people can recycle their old mobile phones for wads of cash.

While this sort of 'feel good for recycling and get some cash too' service is already available with online services such as Envirofone and Mazuma, O2 is the first network operator to offer it.

The service, which O2 snappily calls 'O2 Recycle', works along the same principles as the other online alternatives.

Users enter the details of their device on the website, get an estimated value, print off a receipt while a pre-paid postage bag is sent to them, then they put the phone and receipt in the bag and then send the lot back.

The bags will also be on sale in O2 stores. O2 has not yet announced how much is potentially going to be offered for handsets.

O2 PR Manager Nick Wilkins confirmed it was the frst operator to provide this service saying, "No one else has this and on such a large scale."

For every device sent to them, O2 will donate £1 to the "It's Your Community" charity while the products are sold on to global markets by Redeem.

Redeem has also opened it up for non-O2 customers, and as well as phones it will also accept MP3 players, digital cameras, GPS devices and other consumer electronics gadgets. µ

L'Inq
O2 Recycle