The Bitkom industry association estimates that around 195 million old cell phones and smartphones are in the drawers of German households. He advises to add or donate the old devices to recycling.
According to a survey, people in Germany still have millions of old cell phones in their drawers that they no longer use. The Digitalverband Bitkom estimates that the citizens kept 195 million discarded cell phones and smartphones. Three years ago, there were still 210 million, but the current value was still very high, emphasizes the association. “There is a huge treasure of raw materials in German households,” says Bitkom general manager Bernhard Rohleder. “Smartphones contain gold, silver or rare earths that could be reused.”
Often several old cell phones
People aged at least 16 were interviewed. 89 percent of them stated that they have at least one unused cell phone-they are 61 million people. According to the information, 54 percent even hoarded three or more unused mobile devices.
Bitkom has been conducting the Althandy survey since 2012. At that time, an inventory of around 86 million discarded devices was determined, in 2014 the value rose to 100 million and in 2018 to 124 million. The trend continued: in 2020 it was 199 million and in 2022 210 million. The survey was not carried out in 2023 and 2024, now it took place again. Accordingly, there was a decline to 195 million for the first time.
Whoever accepts the devices
The Bitkom points out that old cell phones can be submitted in municipal waste collection points. In addition, retailers and manufacturers take the devices back. Before that, the data should be deleted on the cell phone, the association recommends. More and more companies have specialized in recreating old devices and selling them up as “refurbished IT”.
If you want to do something good, you can fall back on your old cell phones: Charitable organizations such as the Catholic aid organization Missio accept them as a donation, pass on to poor people and social institutions or to achieve income, which in turn use them for social projects.
