How to recycle your Fairphone in the US

  • Region:United States
  • Updated 

We are dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of electronics by keeping vital raw materials in use and out of landfills.

Recycling in California, Maine, New York, or West Virginia

You can participate in Fairphone’s Reuse and Recycle program if you are a household consumer located in one of these four states:

  • California (CA)
  • Maine (ME)
  • New York (NY)
  • West Virginia (WV)

If you live outside of these four states, our system will not generate a prepaid shipping label for your address and we cannot accept your phones for recycling.

How to package and ship your phone for the Reuse and Recycle Program

Recycling your old phone is completely free for eligible residents. Review the details below for shipping terms and packaging instructions.

Shipping costs and coverage

Shipping and processing fees are 100% free of charge for household residents located in California, Maine, New York, and West Virginia. Fairphone covers all shipping fees for eligible phone returns.

Step-by-step submission process

  1. Go to http://us.fairphone.com/recycle
  2. Complete the recycling form by clicking GET SHIPPING LABEL and receive your shipping label.
  3. Reset your phone back to factory settings (see below for instructions)
  4. Print the prepaid label, pack your phone(s) securely according to the provided packaging instructions and attach the shipping label.
  5. Bring your package to a FedEx drop-off point.

Our Recycling Program Partner will handle the rest at zero cost to you.

Our system allows individual users to recycle a maximum of two devices per single transaction request. Please do not exceed more than two devices per pre-paid satchel.

New York residents: To align with specific state statutory thresholds, limits of up to ten devices per calendar year may be enforced.

How to prepare your phone for recycling

To protect your data and allow for the phone to possibly get a second life, we ask you to remove your data before you ship the device.

Android

  1. Sign out of your Google account
  2. Factory reset your phone to remove your data and deactivate Find My Device

Forgot? You can also deactivate Find My Device remotely.

Apple

If you recycle an iPhone, follow these instructions to remove your data.

What happens after I send my phone to be recycled?

Our Recycling Program Partner will either destroy or fully wipe your phone. They will also issue a Certificate of Treatment or Certificate of Destruction for each shipment, which details the destination of the material, the date of treatment, the final validated weight, and the description of the item collected. You can get in touch with Fairphone at recycle@fairphone.com to obtain your certificate.

How to recycle an old device outside of California, Maine, New York, or West Virginia

If you live outside our designated recycling states, you cannot generate a prepaid mail-in label through our system. Fortunately, you can still recycle your old phone safely and free of charge through trusted local community programs.

Recommended local drop-off resources

You can keep electronic waste out of landfills by taking your device to a certified local collection point:

  • Earth911: Search your ZIP code to find nearby electronic waste recycling facilities on the Earth911 search directory.
  • The Battery Network: Find thousands of local drop-off boxes for mobile phones and batteries using The Battery Network locator.
  • Major electronics retailers: Visit national tech or office supply stores in your area. Many of these locations provide free walk-in recycling kiosks for mobile devices.
Fairphone offices are not certified state-compliant recycling processing centers. To ensure your device is processed correctly, you must only route it through our authorized recycling channels. Our offices cannot accept any phones for recycling.

What devices and accessories can I recycle in the US?

Our US recycling program is authorized to handle specific types of electronic waste. Packages containing non-eligible consumer electronics will be automatically rejected at the processing center and may be returned to the sender at their own expense.

What you can send

You can send cellular phones only. Make sure to ship only the phone itself.

What you cannot send

To ensure safe handling and accurate processing, do not include any of the following items in your package:

  • Accessories and extra parts: Loose batteries, charging accessories, cables, protective cases, and (used) spare parts cannot be tracked or returned, and will be discarded upon arrival.
  • Other electronic devices: Tablets, laptops, computers, headphones, cameras, and kitchen appliances are strictly prohibited. Dispose of these items through a local electronic waste collection facility.

How long will Fairphone keep my personal data?

Fairphone does not access or retain any of your program registration data. However, our Recycle Program Partner processes your personal data in line with US law and compliant with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Still need help?

If you still require assistance, reach out to our customer support team. You can also open a support request directly through the My Fairphone app pre-installed on your device.