Argos announces part exchange service to reduce electronic waste
Thursday, July 30, 2015 - 23:31:23
Argos has become the latest retailer to try and encourage more of its customers to recycle old phones and tablets by launching a trade-in service this month.
Millions of portable electronics get dumped each year, but most can either be salvaged and restored for resale, or recycled to allow their components to be reused in the production of new devices.
Argos is working with WRAP, a charity that helps businesses address waste issues, in order to get the scheme off the ground. And when people exchange their unwanted smartphones and tablets with the retailer, they will receive a gift card which can be used in store to get money off subsequent purchases.
According to figures from WRAP, the number of mobile devices lying unused in households throughout the UK could generate £1 billion if they were properly recycled. And so there is a clear incentive for people to stop hoarding their electronics and, instead, part ways with them in a sustainable and lucrative fashion.
Although smartphones and tablets will be the only types of electronics that Argos accepts as part of the trade-in scheme in the short term, it is hoping to extend eligibility to other gadgets, if this proves to be popular among its customers.
Eventually, it may offer consumers gift cards in exchange for everything from satellite navigation systems and digital cameras to laptop computers.
Other retailers and businesses have launched mobile recycling services for customers and Argos is certainly well positioned to encourage this kind of activity because of the number of gadgets it sells. It is, of course, a little late to the party in terms of launching its recycling service, as it will have to compete with a growing group of rivals that also offer consumers cash for old phones.
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