Have we got any better at recycling our mobile phones?

CSO research found that for seven in 10 (70%) people who recently replaced their phone, the old device was still in the house.

Most of us just keep our old mobile phone at home when we buy a new one, with fewer than one in 10 choosing to recycle them, a new survey has found.

The Central Statistics Office found we also tend to keep laptops and computers at home even when we do not use them anymore, while price was the key driver for the majority of people (85%) when it came to deciding on buying new devices in 2024.

More people were considering greener options when buying ICT devices in the first half of 2024 but price was still keyhttps://t.co/c6a7vFAhlV#CSOIreland #Ireland #Internet #InternetUsage #WorkingFromHome #InternetSecurity #InternetPurchase #ICTSkills #Households #Connectivity pic.twitter.com/sFkO0p8Zle

— Central Statistics Office Ireland (@CSOIreland) October 30, 2024

Overall, more people were considering greener options when buying new devices this year compared to two years ago.

“As our everyday lives become more and more virtual, we rely on our phones, laptops, tablets, or desktop computers to communicate with each other, work from home, etc,” CSO statistician Maureen Delamere said.

We replace some devices more frequently than others, and we tend to replace devices well before their end of life, as we buy the latest version or model with a better camera or new design.

“This release examines how sustainable or environmentally friendly our choices are when it comes to replacing our devices or disposing of them, and what factors we consider when purchasing a new one.” 

The CSO research found that for seven in 10 (70%) people who recently replaced their phone, the old device was still in the house. This was a rise of eight percentage points since the survey was last done in 2022.

Nearly six in 10 (58%) had an old laptop or tablet at home, while fewer than one in 10 (9%) had sold it or given it away.

While price was the most important factor, the brand and specifications of the device was the second-most important, and cited by 70% of people.

When it came to sustainability factors, the energy efficiency of a device was considered by just over one in four people (27%) before they bought, while just under one in seven considered the eco-design of the device important.

Ms Delamere said: “[Eco-design] includes its durability, whether it has an easily upgradable or reparable design that requires fewer materials, whether there were environmentally friendly materials used for packaging, or if the device was designed for longevity, etc.”

Elsewhere, one in four people said they had returned a desktop computer for recycling at Waste Electrical and Electronic facilities or brought back to the retailer.

A further 15% of people said they had recycled an old laptop or tablet, while just 9% said they brought back old mobile phones and smartphones.