New Initiative Lets Swedes Recycle Old Mobile Phones Directly in Grocery Stores

In Sweden, a new convenient initiative allows consumers to recycle their old mobile phones directly in grocery stores using specially placed reverse vending machines. There are approximately 11 million unused mobile phones in Swedish households, yet only a small fraction are currently sold or recycled. This project aims to change that by making phone reuse as straightforward as returning bottles.

Max Hasselblatt, co-founder and CEO of the company behind this effort, emphasized the importance of simplicity: "It should be as easy to reuse electronics as it is to return bottles. When the process is smooth, the willingness to do the right thing increases." Consumers can receive an average payout of around 2,500 kronor depending on the phone’s model and condition. Currently, about twenty machines accepting iPhones are operational, primarily within grocery stores, with plans to expand to Android devices and increase the number of machines throughout 2026.

Reusing phones has notable environmental benefits: it reduces demand for new device production, thereby conserving valuable resources like lithium and cobalt. This approach not only supports circular business models but also offers retailers a novel way to attract customers.

This innovative system provides a quick and convenient method for Swedes to turn their unused mobile phones into cash during routine shopping trips, potentially reducing electronic waste significantly while boosting the nation’s move toward sustainability and resource conservation.