Beyond repair

Too good to waste?

If your device still works

If your device still works, donate it and make someone else happy. Family, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, online freecycle or gift platforms, charity shops or thrift stores: there are plenty of options. You might even be able to help someone less fortunate by giving it away.

Would you rather get money for your device? Then sell your device at a flea market, via a secondhand store, via a website specialising in second-hand items or to a specialist shop - some mobile phone shops, for instance, will give you a voucher in exchange for your old smartphone. 

If the device is broken

Even if your device no longer works, certain parts may still be of interest to someone else.

If the damage is not too extensive, you can still sell your device for that reason. When doing this, you should always clearly mention what the issue is. Besides selling, you can also give your broken device to a Repair Café or other repair specialist. Some Repair Cafés have set up their own spare parts library. That way, your broken appliance might be able to save another broken appliance of the same type. In this article you can read more about 'salvaged' and 'repaired' spare parts.

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End of life? Why recycling is a good idea

Is your old device worthless and you do not need a new one? Electronic devices often contain toxic substances or valuable metals such as gold, silver or copper. Therefore, it is important to recycle your old device correctly so all valuable raw materials can be recovered and disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.

In EU countries, retailers and web stores are obliged to accept your 'old' electrical and electronic devices free of charge when you buy a new model, or within a reasonable period of time after the sale. This so-called take-back obligation aims to collect and recycle as many discarded electronics as possible. 

If such schemes do not exist in your country, take your used electrical device to a recycling or waste management facility. In some countries, it will then go to a reuse centre. Otherwise it goes to a specialised processing company. The recovered raw materials can then be reused for new appliances.