Danes urged to recycle over half of old smartphones and 40% of tablets hoarded at home

Many old mobile phones and tablets are stored away at home instead of being recycled, according to new data from Statistics Denmark. Over half of all smartphones and 40% of tablets are collecting dust in drawers and cupboards. These devices consume valuable resources during their production, and it is crucial to recycle these materials. Vibeke Myrthue Jensen, an environmental officer, emphasizes that keeping devices hidden away is a waste of resources.

Moreover, 15% of old desktop computers end up in attics or storage rooms. Jensen notes that many Danes intentionally choose to keep their used electronics. “It may be inconvenient to repair old devices,” she says. “It could also simply be that old photos are on a device, and we can’t access them without a new battery.”

Jensen insists that it would significantly benefit the environment if people remembered to visit recycling facilities. She points out that materials like cobalt and nickel from mobile phone batteries, along with precious metals such as gold and silver, are crucial global resources.

Anne Krøjgaard, a writer from Ikast, acknowledges her collection of old electronics, including five laptops, an iPad, and several phones. “It’s absurd that we don’t take them to be recycled,” she comments. Many are obsolete and slow due to age, but she hesitates to discard them for fear of losing important data.

As electronic consumption in Denmark rises, Jensen encourages more people to declutter their spaces and visit recycling centers. By addressing repair costs through tax incentives, she believes this could make repairing devices more appealing, ultimately extending their lifespan instead of letting them gather dust.