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Closing the loop on sustainability

How Samsung’s recycling program keeps e-waste out of landfills — and how you can help.

A woman with a long brown ponytail, wearing a white shirt and blue striped shorts stands with her back to the camera. Her head is tipped back and her arms outstretched to the side. She is surrounded by leafy green trees under a blue sky. A woman with a long brown ponytail, wearing a white shirt and blue striped shorts stands with her back to the camera. Her head is tipped back and her arms outstretched to the side. She is surrounded by leafy green trees under a blue sky.

The world produces more than 50 million tons of e-waste every year.1 Yet less than 20% of discarded TVs, computers, phones and other types of electronics will be recycled. The rest will likely end up in a landfill where it can cause serious illness or contaminate the soil and groundwater. In our ongoing efforts to improve our carbon footprint, combate climate change and improve product sustainability, Samsung is committed to the responsible recycling of our products at the very highest of standards. You can help by recycling or trading in your old phone, and by purchasing Samsung Certified Re-Newed products.

Close-up of a smartphone with the back casing removed. Gray-gloved fingers are examining the inside circuitry of the phone. Close-up of a smartphone with the back casing removed. Gray-gloved fingers are examining the inside circuitry of the phone.

What can you do with an old cell phone?

Despite its name, e-waste isn’t trash — it contains valuable, useful components that can be recaptured, recycled and given new life.

When phones are sent in for recycling, they’re tested first to see if they can be refurbished. Non-working devices are disassembled and broken down into key materials like glass, metals, plastic and batteries. Each of these materials can be reused in new Samsung products or sold on to be used by other industries, keeping them in the supply chain and out of the waste stream. Since 2008, we’ve collected 1.1 billion pounds of electronics in the U.S. through our Re+ recycling program.

Samsung offers ways to be more sustainable Samsung offers ways to be more sustainable

Responsible cell phone recycling

Not all “green” efforts are ethical or sustainable. We ensure our products are recycled safely and responsibly, and that no materials are exported overseas to be dumped in developing countries. Through strict adherence to the eStewards Standard, which has established the best practices for the reuse and recycling of e-waste worldwide. Samsung has received the U.S. EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management Gold Tier Champion Award for leadership in e-waste collection and recycling for seven years running.

A photograph of a gray desk drawer. The drawer is open, revealing various items within: a roll of Scotch tape, string, measuring tapes, a pad of yellow Post-Its, rings of keys, adapter plugs, cables and a smartphone with a black screen. A photograph of a gray desk drawer. The drawer is open, revealing various items within: a roll of Scotch tape, string, measuring tapes, a pad of yellow Post-Its, rings of keys, adapter plugs, cables and a smartphone with a black screen.

Phone recycling starts with you

There are many ways you can help create a circular, sustainable economy. An easy way to start is simply to recycle or trade in your old phones. You can clear out some space while you do something good for the environment. Before you trade in or recycle your old Android or iOS phone, follow the steps below.

A black Galaxy phone lies on a table in a darkened room. The display is lit in purples and pinks, with a silhouette of a mountain range. The time and date appear on the display, along with a SmartThings alert notification. The message 'Baby crying' appears in the notification box. A black Galaxy phone lies on a table in a darkened room. The display is lit in purples and pinks, with a silhouette of a mountain range. The time and date appear on the display, along with a SmartThings alert notification. The message 'Baby crying' appears in the notification box.

Upcycle your old phone using SmartThings Labs

Instead of throwing away your old smartphone, give it a new purpose. Through the SmartThings Labs feature in your SmartThings app, you can use your older phone to control your SmartThings-compatible lighting or as a baby monitor. The Galaxy Upcycling at Home program has been recognized by the Reuters Responsible Business Awards as a “highly commended” effort to transition phone ownership to a circular, sustainable business model.3


A display of Samsung Certified Re-Newed phones on a clear tabletop. The smartphones are lined up in a row diagonally from the top left to the bottom right of the frame. Each smartphone is lableled with a blue placard that says, 'Samsung Certified Pre-owned.' A hand with painted yellow and aqua fingernails reaches for a Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G smartphone in the center-right of the frame. A display of Samsung Certified Re-Newed phones on a clear tabletop. The smartphones are lined up in a row diagonally from the top left to the bottom right of the frame. Each smartphone is lableled with a blue placard that says, 'Samsung Certified Pre-owned.' A hand with painted yellow and aqua fingernails reaches for a Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G smartphone in the center-right of the frame.

Go greener with a new-to-you phone

Get more than an upgrade. Samsung Certified Re-Newed smartphones are rigorously tested to ensure you get the quality and performance of a brand-new device, but with a much lower carbon footprint. Simply buying a refurbished phone saves 80% or about 121 pounds of CO2 compared to a new device2 — and will save you some money, too.

Rebuilt, refurbished, Re-Newed

Samsung Certified Re-Newed smartphones are everything you want, with lower prices and a lower environmental impact. Keep your wallet green while reducing your carbon footprint, too.

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