End-of-Life Recycling

Last year, over 3 million handsets were returned to Regenersis, representing over 828 tonnes of material. About 20% of these are not suitable for reuse and are therefore sent for safe recycling. Regenersis operates a zero landfill policy.

The components and accessories are segregated into various streams, for example:

• Handsets are sent to a specialist recycling agent in Sweden where metals are extracted using waste-to-energy incineration. 
• Batteries are sent to a specialist recycler in France. Nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride and lithium ion/polymer are extracted and returned to productive use.
• Chargers and accessories – the metals are recovered, and the plastic is melted into traffic cones, buckets and horse gallops.
• Mixed plastics, like phone covers, are melted and formed to make plastic sheeting.

Recycling rates are provided to both the Environment Agency and our customers as part of our WEEE obligation and our commitment to environmental excellence.