195 million. That's how many unused phones and smartphones are gathering dust in German households right now. Drawers, boxes, attics. Almost two and a half devices per person.
(Yeah, you probably have at least two yourself.)
According to a recent Bitkom survey, this number is finally dropping. In 2022 it was 210 million. Sounds like progress. It is. But the problem remains massive, especially with phone recycling in Germany still feeling complicated to many people.
Actually, the solution has been surprisingly simple since 2022. More on that in a second.
The Raw Material Treasure in Your Drawer
Every smartphone contains about 30 milligrams of gold, 305 milligrams of silver, and 6.3 grams of cobalt according to the Eco Institute. Doesn't sound like much?
Check this out. Across 195 million devices, that adds up to:
5.85 tons of gold (worth approximately €470 million)
Nearly 60 tons of silver (worth approximately €60 million)
Over 1,200 tons of cobalt (critical raw material for batteries)
Plus copper, palladium, and rare earth elements. As Bitkom CEO Dr. Bernhard Rohleder puts it: "In German households there is a massive raw material treasure."
Raw materials in smartphones aren't just valuable – they're limited. Cobalt, for example, is mined under often problematic conditions. Every recycled smartphone reduces demand for new mining.
This brings me to the next point that's genuinely impressive: Phone recycling isn't just sensible, it's 62.5 times more efficient than mining. One ton of old phones contains 250 grams of gold. One ton of gold ore? Just 4 grams.
Even better than recycling: Keep devices in use longer. At refurbito you can find refurbished smartphones that have already been professionally restored.
An example: A mine in South Africa needs tons of rock and thousands of liters of water to extract 4 grams of gold. Your phone drawer? Contains 62 times that amount. No explosives, no groundwater contamination, no child labor.
Germany Is Failing at Phone Recycling
The numbers are sobering. Germany achieved only a 29.5 percent collection rate for proper phone recycling in 2023. The EU requires 65 percent.
We're missing the target by more than half. The EU has launched infringement proceedings because of it – diplomatic speak for "do your homework already."
Improper phone disposal risks massive environmental damage. One improperly disposed smartphone can contaminate up to 132,000 liters of water according to the Hamburg Consumer Center. That's the annual water consumption of a family of four, contaminated by a single device in regular trash.
Arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury. The whole toxic lineup nobody wants in their groundwater. That's why sustainable electronics matter.
The Easiest Solution: Supermarket Drop-Off
Since July 1, 2022, ALDI, LIDL, REWE, and EDEKA must accept old phones for free. Just drop them in the collection box during your weekly grocery run. No purchase required, no appointment needed.
No more excuses about inconvenience. Phone recycling in Germany is now as easy as dropping your phone in the collection box at the entrance.
The law applies to all stores over 800 square meters that sell electronics. Basically every larger supermarket.
25,000 new collection points were created through this law. Yet many people still don't know about it. Phone recycling has never been this easy.
What Phone Recycling Really Means
Many people think phone recycling just means "throwing away." Wrong. Modern facilities can recover up to 95 percent of raw materials in smartphones. Gold, silver, copper, cobalt – almost everything gets reused.
The recycling process runs in several stages:
1. Dismantling: Devices are separated into individual components
2. Sorting: Metals, plastics, and glass are categorized
3. Smelting: Precious metals are extracted at high temperatures
4. Reprocessing: Recovered raw materials flow back into production
Every recycled smartphone saves not just raw materials, but also massive amounts of CO2 compared to mining. Phone recycling contributes to the circular economy.
Your Next Three Steps
This week:
- Clean out your tech drawer – you know the one I'm talking about. With the three old charging cables and the iPhone 6.
- Do a factory reset (Settings > General > Reset). Takes two minutes. Important for your data security.
- Drop it off at the supermarket during your next shopping trip. Done.
Bonus: If your phone still works, check MediaMarkt or Saturn trade-in programs first. Some models bring €75 or more. If you're looking for a replacement, you can compare refurbished iPhone prices.
Selling beats scrapping. Even better than recycling. Check our retailer comparison to find where refurbished phones are cheapest.
195 million old phones in drawers waiting to be properly recycled. Almost 6 tons of gold, 60 tons of silver. And a collection rate of 29.5 percent.
The numbers speak for themselves. Every device returned makes a difference. Just bring it along on your next shopping trip and drop it in the collection box. Phone recycling in Germany has never been easier.
