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Phone recycling

  • August 27, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 24 views

I have loads of old phones.  I want to give them to Oxfam - they make money by recycling them.  But is this safe?

I know I can download things to completely wipe everything from memory.  But some of them don't even switch on so that's not possible.

If I just drop them in water, will that mean they're completely useless to anyone who wants to retrieve my data?

Best answer by WelshPaul

No. If you want to ensure that no one gains access to data on a device that no longer turns on, physically destroying the device is the only real way.

2 replies

WelshPaul
Platinum 
Contributor
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  • Platinum 
Contributor
  • Answer
  • August 28, 2025

No. If you want to ensure that no one gains access to data on a device that no longer turns on, physically destroying the device is the only real way.


Tyler C
iD Mobile Employee
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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • September 1, 2025

Hi there ​@darcmarc, we hope that ​@WelshPaul was able to help.

 

Thanks,

Tyler