How to securely recycle or dispose of old phone handsets

Lysander

Lysander

Lysander

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I have about five old phones to get rid of. Maybe more. I don't want to just throw them away because they must have a load of personal data on them.

I can't access most of them since I've forgotten the codes/patterns.

Is there a way I can do this for free? Shall I just take a sledgehammer to them?
 
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I normally reformat my old phones and then sell them off. Make sure to remove any SD cards as well.

There are a couple that I have kept as spares though, including my Galaxy SII which I use as an MP3 player as it has a headphone jack.
 
Pawnless Endgame said:
I normally reformat my old phones and then sell them off. Make sure to remove any SD cards as well.

There are a couple that I have kept as spares though, including my Galaxy SII which I use as an MP3 player as it has a headphone jack.
Click to expand...

I would love to reformat but I've forgotten the codes to get in to most of them. I used to use my old Lumia as a wireless-only device until the screen broke for a second time rendering it useless.

builder22 said:
BFH should do it!
Click to expand...

You must have several.
 
I have two dud phones with broken screens.
By broken, I mean illegible

Is it best just to keep these?
As the data is still there and could be accessed?
 
413x said:
I have two dud phones with broken screens.
By broken, I mean illegible

Is it best just to keep these?
As the data is still there and could be accessed?
Click to expand...

Break open, remove storage chips, destroy those, throw away.
 
I was just about to create a thread on this as i've a few phones to get rid of from various family members.

Loads of websites to sell old phones, but is there anywhere that just takes them for free to recycle? Whether locally (county durham area) or via post.

They're not worth selling and some have data on, but are stuck in a boot loop and i've given up on them.

It seems wasteful to just throw them away.
 
Apple will accept any mobile phone (dumb even) or computerised component / waste for free recycling.

obviously there is always a small risk of the device ending up in the wrong hands, same as any company.
Free recycling is processed in England though for what it’s worth, and recently an employee was caught “stealing” the damaged phones and was both fired and criminal charges.

if you can, make sure they’re erased etc as a standard practice and I wouldn’t worry at all.
 
Big bonfire praying to the electronic god's to cleanse them. Or on a more boring option as someone said hardware/recovery reset ;)
 
Alpherah said:
Apple will accept any mobile phone (dumb even) or computerised component / waste for free recycling.

obviously there is always a small risk of the device ending up in the wrong hands, same as any company.
Free recycling is processed in England though for what it’s worth, and recently an employee was caught “stealing” the damaged phones and was both fired and criminal charges.

if you can, make sure they’re erased etc as a standard practice and I wouldn’t worry at all.
Click to expand...

I think this is probably the best way to go.

Do you have a link with any more info? If not I'll just look into it myself.
 
Lysander said:
I have about five old phones to get rid of. Maybe more. I don't want to just throw them away because they must have a load of personal data on them.

I can't access most of them since I've forgotten the codes/patterns.

Is there a way I can do this for free? Shall I just take a sledgehammer to them?
Click to expand...

Is there any worth to the phones, if so maybe weigh them in at CEX. Even if it's only a fiver a phone it's still 25 quid.

Can see your issue though with erasing personal though if you can't access them - I'd usually do a full master reset before selling anything.
 
Local recycling centres will take them. Ours has a wheelie bin full of phones!
 
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