Mobile phone recyclers would much rather have handsets as soon as they become redundant when they can be refurbished for further use at very little cost. That is why they pay high prices for recent models in good condition. On the other hand, recyclers generally only pay a very low price for older models, say £3 or £4. Even so, recycling firms argue they still incur a net loss on low value phones after taking into acount the costs of recycling the battery.
Some question this approach by mobile phone recyclers, because by paying such low prices for older or broken phones, there is a disincentive for users to make the effort to send handsets in for recycling.
Mobile phone recycling companies inspect and test phones to ensure thay are working properly before sending them overseas. Phones that do not come up to standard are recycled responsibly to avoid sending to landfill and environmental contamination. The aim is also to minimise the need for recycling further by repairing phones with minor faults so that they can be reused.
Most recyclers also scan mobiles by their IMEI number to check whether they have been stolen or lost and then quarantine them if necessary.