Virgin Media O2 Helps UK Gamers Trade-in Unwanted Consoles for Cash

Broadband and mobile provider VMO2 (Virgin Media and O2) has today announced an expansion of their O2 Recycle scheme, which enables UK people to trade-in unwanted devices for cash, to include popular video gaming consoles from Sony (PlayStation), Microsoft (Xbox), Meta (Oculus) and Nintendo.

The initiative, which is now also accepting MacBooks, alongside smartphones, tablets, wearables and earbuds, exists to help tackle e-waste, and to promote the circular economy where devices can be used again and again. As part of this, O2 Recycle will usually work to repair, refurbish and then re-sell or recycle the devices they receive, with “zero parts going to landfill.”

The decision to expand this scheme to include games consoles came after new research suggested that there could be around 18 million unused consoles stashed in cupboards and drawers across the UK, which is based on a survey of 2,024 members of the UK general public, where 18% of respondents had unused consoles. Some 75% also said they’d recycle their console if they were paid for it, and 51% would do so to help prevent e-waste.

Since its launch in 2009, VMO2’s scheme has recycled almost four million devices and paid out £341m to consumers. O2 Recycle is open to anyone regardless of their mobile network and, last year, the initiative processed almost 180,000 devices which were saved from landfill, and recycled or resold as ‘like new’ products to customers.

Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer at VMO2, said:

“We’ve powered up O2 Recycle to cover consoles and MacBooks, making it even easier for people to trade in their unwanted tech for cash and to protect the planet by saving their device from landfill.

With almost four million devices recycled and £340 million paid out, O2 Recycle is leading the UK’s circular economy and giving tech a second life so it can be used again and again.”

Consumers could alternatively also try selling their devices via eBay or other online auction sites, which will often get them more money. But the catch with that approach is you will also have to deal with the fees, as well as any potential complaints should things go wrong.