To coincide with Global Recycling Day, Virgin Media O2 has announced it has diverted 250,000 devices from landfill in 2022 through its O2 Recycle scheme.
The scheme encourages customers – regardless of their network – to trade in unwanted smartphones, tablets, and accessories in exchange for a cash-back boost. O2 Recycle also supports businesses to recycle their e-waste.
In 2022, Virgin Media O2 says O2 Recycle paid out more than £36 million to consumers for their devices, processing on average more than 950 handsets per working day.
Of these devices, 92% were data wiped, refurbished, and resold as “like new” products to customers, with the remainder broken down for raw materials. Virgin Media O2 says none of the technology which goes through O2 Recycle ends up in landfill.
O2 Recycle is a key part of Virgin Media O2’s Better Connections Plan – the company’s sustainability strategy. The strategy is one of the ways the company says it is helping to tackle e-waste and supporting people to carry out “10 million circular actions” by the end of 2025.
With more than 3.8 million devices sustainably recycled since 2009, O2 Recycle is playing a leading role in tackling e-waste across the UK.
Last year, Virgin Media O2 says it recycled, resold and repaired 2.4 million devices – including handsets and customer equipment such as routers and set-top boxes.
Since it launched, O2 Recycle has paid out more than £320 million, and sustainably recycled 3.8 million devices, where 92% have been refurbished and reused, with zero going to landfill, Virgin Media O2 says.
Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Virgin Media O2, commented: “With more than 3.8 million devices sustainably recycled since 2009, O2 Recycle is playing a leading role in tackling e-waste across the UK.
“O2 Recycle is a win-win for people and the planet: it’s preventing devices from ending up in landfill, and it’s a simple and easy way for consumers to dispose of their unwanted tech and get rewarded for doing so – with £320 million paid out to date.
“It’s a key part of our sustainability strategy, the Better Connections Plan where we’re helping people to live greener lives, and supporting the circular economy so devices can be used again and again.”