How to recycle your old phone in Europe with Fairphone's Reuse and Recycle Program
You can give your old phone a second life or recycle it responsibly while earning credit toward your next purchase with Fairphone’s Reuse and Recycle Program. Submit your smartphone online to receive a Fairphone gift card for our online shop.
Eligibility for the Reuse and Recycle program
- The program is available exclusively in European Union countries where Fairphone delivers products. We cannot issue prepaid shipping labels for non-EU countries like the UK, Switzerland, or Norway.
- Your smartphone must have a readable IMEI1 number. We cannot accept smartphones without an identifiable IMEI1 number due to legal and security standards.
- All shipments must go directly to our dedicated recycling partner using our prepaid shipping label. We cannot accept phones delivered to our head office in Amsterdam.
How to submit your phone for trade-in
- Open the Reuse and Recycle Program webpage and select your phone brand, model, and physical condition.
- Review your estimated quote. This offer remains valid for 28 days.
- Complete the registration form to receive your prepaid shipping label by email.
- Prepare your smartphone for recycling.
- Pack up to two smartphones securely in one package and attach the label.
- Drop off your package with the designated shipping carrier. We cover this shipping cost.
- Check your email for updates once our service partner receives and verifies your shipment.
How many phones can I send for recycling?
You can send up to two phones in a single shipment parcel. If you register two phones, both must be shipped together in the same package to avoid system processing issues. If you want to send more than two phones, please create a separate application for each additional parcel.
How to receive and use your Reuse and Recycle gift card
- Once our service partner receives and validates your phone, we will send your Fairphone gift card code by email.
- Standard delivery takes one to two weeks after posting your phone. If you accept a revised quotation after physical inspection, your gift card code will arrive within 24 hours by email.
- Fairphone gift cards remain valid for 36 months (three years) from the date of issue.
- You can apply your gift card code across multiple purchases in our online shop until the balance reaches €0.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I recycle my phone if I live in a non-EU country?
If you live outside our EU shipping zone, please recycle your electronic devices through local collection points:
- UK residents can find local council recycling facilities through the UK Government recycling collections page.
- Switzerland residents can find collection locations on the Swiss Recycling Map.
- Norway residents can check local waste collection details on the Oslo Municipality recycling guide or their local municipality website.
Can I send other electronic devices or extra batteries?
Our partner only accepts supported smartphone models. We cannot accept tablets, audio players, standalone accessories, or loose batteries.
What happens to the devices after I send them in?
Collected devices are processed based on their generation and working condition:
- Fairphone 1 and Fairphone 2 devices are sent to partner organizations that repurpose components for industrial solutions.
- Fairphone 3 devices are harvested for spare parts to support our repair services.
- Other smartphone brands are remanufactured for secondary markets or recycled by our partner to recover raw materials like aluminum and plastic.
Can I send a phone that has water damage?
Yes, you can send phones with severe liquid damage, provided you remove your Google account or Apple ID first. However, expect these devices to have a €0 valuation. To reduce carbon emissions from transport, we encourage you to recycle zero-value devices at a local e-waste facility instead of shipping them.
Can I send a phone with a swollen battery?
No, we are unable to accept batteries that are swelling as they are a fire hazard during shipping. If a bloated battery is shipped, the sender will be liable. Please discard the lithium-ion battery as soon as possible via your local small chemical waste program.
How is my personal data handled in the Reuse and Recycle Program?
To protect your privacy, please back up your files, perform a factory reset, and remove all SIM and memory cards before sending your smartphone. Any inserted cards are destroyed immediately upon arrival, and our service partner will automatically wipe any unwiped phones. We keep your registration details for seven years to meet statutory financial laws, and Dutch anti-fraud regulations require us to record national ID details with the local government registry office for five to seven years. We never share this identification data with law enforcement or third parties, and we never use it for marketing or profiling.
Still need help?
If you still require assistance, reach out to our customer support team. You can also open a support request directly through the My Fairphone app pre-installed on your device.