105 million old phones are sitting somewhere in German homes right now. Is yours one of them? Probably.
But before you drag it to the recycling center: That's probably not your best option. And starting January 2026, things work differently there anyway. A staff member has to take it from you directly – you can't just toss it in the bin.
Spoiler: The best option is not to dispose of your old phone at all. Repair or resale beats everything else. And no, it's not complicated.
What you need to know: If repair isn't an option anymore – head to NABU or a donation program. That brings more value to your phone than the recycling center. This guide shows you all options ranked by environmental impact, so you can make the right choice when you dispose of e-waste.
Why Proper E-Waste Disposal Matters
A phone weighs 200 grams. Not much. But the environmental cost? Massive.
If you keep using your phone just one more year, you save 58 kg of CO2 and 14 kg of raw materials according to NABU. Just by not throwing it away. That's more than the weight of five bricks – resources that would otherwise need to be mined fresh.
Here's the harsh reality: Germany generates over 1 million tons of e-waste every year. Over 1 million tons of that does NOT get collected separately. It disappears into regular trash or – yes – sits in your drawer.
And what gets recycled? Only about 12% of raw materials. The rest? Gets mined fresh. With all the environmental damage that brings.
This might sound extreme. It's not.
The Environmental Ranking: All Disposal Methods Compared
Not every disposal option is equally good for the environment. But some are genuinely terrible. Here's my honest ranking – from best to worst option for e-waste disposal:
Rank 1: Keep Using It or Get It Repaired
Environmental Score: 10/10
The best disposal? None at all.
The numbers speak for themselves: A cracked screen at a good repair service costs you €50–€150. A new battery? €30–€80. That's ALWAYS cheaper than a new phone. And you save all the production emissions – which is way more than anything else you could do when you dispose of electronics.
Repair makes sense when:
Device is less than 4 years old
Only one part is broken (battery, screen, charging port)
Everything else still runs smoothly
Repair doesn't make sense when:
There's water damage inside (corrosion spreads)
Multiple components are broken
Software is no longer supported (security risk)
Our tip: If you're not too demanding – even a 6-year-old phone can run another 2–3 years. Just give it a shot.
Rank 2: Sell It or Use Trade-In Programs
Environmental Score: 9/10
Your phone still works? Then sell your phone instead of disposing of it. Someone else gets to use it, you make some money. Win-win.
What you can realistically get:
2–3 year old iPhone: €200–€400
Samsung Galaxy (similar age): €100–€300
According to Macwelt, those are typical prices. You can compare current prices for refurbished smartphones and see what your old device might still be worth.
But where to sell?
| Provider | Price | Best for... |
|---|---|---|
| Rebuy/Swappie | Highest prices | Maximum return |
| Samsung Trade-In | Medium | Even takes damaged devices (lower price) |
| Apple Trade-In | Low-Medium | Convenience (handle during new purchase) |
| eBay Classifieds | Variable | Patience + negotiation skills |
Our take: Samsung is a hidden gem. They take even defective devices – if the display is broken, the price drops logically. But the device still gets refurbished or properly recycled. That's not nothing.
If you don't want to use trade-in for your iPhone, you can also compare refurbished iPhones at refurbito - often at better prices than official programs.
Rank 3: Donate Your Phone
Environmental Score: 8/10
If your phone still works but you don't need the money: donating your phone is a solid choice.
The most popular programs:
Proceeds go to insect protection
Refurbishment by AfB (jobs for people with disabilities)
Free shipping with prepaid envelope
50 cents per device from recycling proceeds
Supports aid projects worldwide
Collection boxes at churches
Protects gorillas (coltan mining issue)
Tax receipt available
Shipping or drop-off points
The advantage of donating: you often get confirmation that data was deleted. With trade-in programs, you have to trust the buyer handles it properly.
Rank 4: Certified Recycling
Environmental Score: 6/10
If your phone is truly dead and nobody wants it, you need to properly dispose of it. Certified phone recycling is then your best option.
Germany has about 340 certified primary treatment facilities according to the Federal Environment Agency. These facilities can recover precious metals like gold, silver, and copper.
The problem: even certified phone recycling loses many raw materials. Recovery rates are far below 100%. That's why reuse when you dispose of e-waste always beats recycling.
Rank 5: Municipal Recycling Center
Environmental Score: 5/10
The recycling center is free and legal - and for many the first stop to dispose of phones. But not the best option.
New regulation starting January 2026: According to the German Federal Government, you must now hand small devices like phones directly to staff. Self-deposit is no longer allowed. Staff remove the battery separately and sort devices.
Why only rank 5?
You don't know for sure if devices get certified treatment
No feedback on what happens to them
No financial or charitable value created
Devices aren't checked for reuse potential
If your phone still works? Then the recycling center is a waste. Really. It could still serve someone well.
Rank 6: Regular Trash (ILLEGAL)
Environmental Score: 0/10
E-waste in regular trash is illegal in Germany. The Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) requires separate collection.
In regular trash, devices end up in landfills or incineration. Valuable metals are lost, hazardous materials can leak into the environment.
Just don't.
Before Disposal: Securely Delete Your Data
Before you hand over your phone: You MUST delete your data yourself. The recycling center or buyer won't do it for sure. So nothing works here without you.
I once forgot to back up my authenticator app before resetting my phone. That was an entertaining afternoon calling support lines for various services. Trust me: You don't want to go through that.
Security Level 1: Basic (Enough for Most People)
If you didn't have sensitive data (cryptocurrencies, accounts) on your phone, this is enough. The Consumer Protection Center advises these steps:
- Remove SIM card
- Remove SD card (if you have one)
- Sign out of Google/Apple ID/Samsung Account – This is important!
- Factory reset
- iPhone: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Android: Settings > System > Reset > Erase all data
That's it. On modern phones with encryption, the factory reset destroys the key – the data is practically gone. Not visible, but also not recoverable.
Security Level 2: High (For Sensitive Data)
The BSI recommends multiple overwrites for sensitive data.
For Android:
1. Factory reset
2. Fill storage with random data (e.g., record videos until full)
3. Factory reset again
For iPhones:
- Devices from iPhone 6 onwards only need factory reset since they're hardware-encrypted
What You Must NOT Forget
Unpair smartwatch
Remove Bluetooth devices
Back up authenticator apps (backup codes!)
Check cloud sync (is data actually deleted?)
On Android: enable encryption before reset
What Changed in 2026 for E-Waste Disposal
The new ElektroG regulation brought some practical changes for e-waste disposal.
Before (until end of 2025):
Small devices self-deposited in collection bins
No verification on drop-off
Batteries often not separated
Now (starting January 2026):
Phones, small devices, and screens must be handed to staff
Trained employees remove batteries for separate disposal
Better sorting for higher recycling rates
Sounds like extra hassle, but it makes sense. Lithium-ion batteries in improperly disposed devices have caused fires at recycling facilities in the past. The new regulation should prevent that.
What this means for you:
Plan a bit more time at the recycling center
Come during staffed hours
Possibly a short queue if many show up at once
Dispose of E-Waste for Free: All Drop-Off Points
If you want to dispose of e-waste for free, you have several options. The Hamburg Consumer Protection Center lists all possibilities.
Municipal Recycling Centers
Every municipality has at least one recycling center. You can dispose of e-waste for free there.
How to find your local center:
Search "[Your city] recycling center" or "Wertstoffhof"
Contact your local waste management service
"Recyclinghof" and "Entsorgungszentrum" are common synonyms
Retail Stores
Under ElektroG, larger stores must take back small electronics.
MediaMarkt, Saturn: Accept all small devices under 25 cm on the longest side, even without a new purchase.
Supermarkets: Edeka, Rewe, Lidl, and Aldi stores with over 800 m² selling area must also accept small devices.
Online retailers: When ordering an equivalent new device, the old one must be taken back free of charge.
Collection Campaigns and Boxes
Many cities have collection boxes at:
Town halls
Schools and universities
Churches (often for missio or other donation programs)
Libraries
Phone Recycling: What Happens After Drop-Off?
When you dispose of your phone or recycle it, it goes through different stages.
With trade-in and donation programs:
1. Functionality check
2. Data deletion (certified)
3. If possible: refurbishment and resale
4. If not: certified recycling
With recycling center/retailer:
1. Collection and sorting
2. Transport to primary treatment facility
3. Disassembly and material separation
4. Recovery of metals (gold, silver, copper, palladium)
5. Proper disposal of hazardous materials
The difference: trade-in and donation programs check for reuse first. Recycling center devices often get recycled directly, even if they still worked. If you want to know what condition grades refurbished devices are offered in, our condition guide explains that in detail.
Repair vs. Dispose: A Decision Guide
Sometimes the question is: is repair still worth it, or should I dispose of my phone?
Repair makes sense when:
| Factor | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Device age | < 4 years |
| Repair cost | < 50% of resale value |
| Problem | Single part broken |
| Software support | At least 1 year remaining |
Repair does NOT make sense when:
Multiple components are broken
Device has water damage (corrosion spreads)
No more security updates
Repair costs exceed resale value
Repair options:
- Manufacturer service: Expensive but comes with warranty
- Independent repair shops: Cheaper, quality varies
- DIY repair: Cheapest, requires skill (iFixit has great guides)
The EU Right to Repair regulation makes getting spare parts easier. Manufacturers must provide replacement parts and repair manuals for certain products.
Refurbished Phones: An Alternative to Disposal and Buying New
If you don't want to dispose of your old phone yourself, refurbished is a sustainable option. Professionally refurbished devices are significantly cheaper than new and conserve resources.
At refurbito, we compare prices from different refurbished sellers so you can find the best deal. That's how the circle closes: your old phone gets refurbished instead of being disposed of, and someone else buys it as a refurbished device.
Conclusion: Dispose of E-Waste - But Do It Right!
The best way to dispose of e-waste is not to dispose of it at all. Repair, sell, or donate are always better than any form of disposal. If your phone is truly no longer usable, then dispose of it responsibly at the recycling center or through certified recycling programs.
With this guide you now know all options for proper e-waste disposal - choose the one that's best for your phone and the environment. And remember: often the most sustainable solution is to use the device one more year or give it to someone who can still use it.
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Secondary Keywords: phone recycling, sell phone, donate phone, electronics disposal
