O2 has urged Brits to check their cupboards and drawers that could be hiding hundreds of pounds. There are 49 million gaming consoles sitting unused in homes across the UK, worth a total of £4.14 billion.
With 50% of households having received gaming gifts for Christmas, old devices will be put away, but they could be traded in for an average of £145 through O2 Recycle. Nearly half of Brits (49%) admit they have an old video game console that’s gathering dust, while 54% are keeping old consoles “just in case” they want to play them again, despite not having used them in years. For those who received a new console as a gift, almost one in five (18%) plan to pack their old one away, while 14% will keep it plugged in but will rarely use it. One in 10 (10%) admit they’re likely to throw their old console away altogether. Many gamers are unaware of the value of the unwanted gaming tech they have locked away at home.
Through O2’s scheme, Brits can turn unused tech into cash. Gamers can receive up to £160 for a PlayStation 5, up to £92 for a Nintendo Switch (OLED) and up to £110 for an Xbox Series X.
The scheme is open to anyone, regardless of their mobile network, and devices are either repaired, refurbished and resold, or responsibly recycled – with zero parts going to landfill.
Since its launch in 2009, O2 Recycle has recycled more than four million devices and paid out £356 million to consumers.
Dana Haidan, chief sustainability officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “With millions of new consoles taking pride of place in gamers’ homes this January, we know it can be overwhelming for Brits to know what to do with their unwanted gaming gadgets.
“That’s why O2 Recycle exists – to keep consoles and other tech in use for longer, whether that’s refurbishing and reselling them so they can be enjoyed by other gamers, or by ensuring they’re responsibly recycled when reuse isn’t possible.
“By trading in old consoles through O2 Recycle, people can unlock extra cash at a time when many are feeling the January squeeze, while helping to cut down on electronic waste and support a more circular approach to tech.”
