The Forgotten Phones In Drawers Could Power A Circular Future

Do we find e-waste in landfills only? No. Check the drawers and storerooms—you’ll discover a new landfill of e-waste there. Is it a habit or an emotion? For some, it is for others; it’s simply a casual act of putting old devices safely in a drawer. We’ve all become hoarders of e-waste—not just smartphones, but also portable chargers, laptops, monitors, wires, CPUs, and more.

A report by Cashify (The Great Indian Upgrade) said that around 70% of Indian families have at least two or three smartphones that are not being used at all. These devices are not merely forgotten—they stand for a huge untapped resource that can either be repaired, refurbished or recycled.

E-waste is piling up, and startups are struggling to get enough waste to recycle. Asia alone generates about 30 billion kilograms of e-waste—almost half of the world’s total—with India ranking third, producing over 1.75 million metric tonnes per year. However, only a fraction of this waste reaches formal recyclers or resellers. However, only a fraction of this waste reaches formal recyclers or resellers.

But only very few such old devices are getting their share of life again. India’s refurbished smartphone and re-commerce sector is expected to be worth $219 billion by 2033, according to re-commerce platform Cashify’s latest User Behaviour Survey 2025 and Whitepaper. 

According to the report, India shipped 151 million refurbished smartphones through 2024, a 4% annual increase compared with the previous year. And every 3 in 5 refurbished phone buyers chose an iPhone, in the first half of 2025 — Apple commands 62.9% market share in this space, followed by OnePlus (10.2%), Xiaomi (9.7%) and Samsung (6.1%).

E-Waste Day is a warning that such neglected gadgets can actually help the solution. Repairing, refurbishing, recycling even a single device saves energy, lowers the demand for new raw materials, and prevents hazardous waste from getting into the environment. The revival of every phone is a step, though small, of great significance and towards a more sustainable, circular economy.

“Extending the life of electronic devices is one of the most effective ways to reduce e-waste,” said Nitin Gupta, Co-founder and CEO of Attero Recycling. “Every phone, laptop, or appliance that gets repaired or reused saves materials and energy that would otherwise go into making new products.”

Attero has launched Selsmart, a direct-to-consumer platform operating in over 25 cities, aimed at collecting e-waste safely and efficiently. “Data security is a key part of this process. We permanently erase personal information before recycling or reuse,” Gupta added. Valuable metals such as gold, silver, cobalt, and lithium are recovered using Attero’s proprietary technology, protected by over 46 global patents.

Keyur Shah, Chief Strategy Officer at Servify, said refurbishment not only benefits the planet but also people. “Extending device lifespan is our most powerful lever against e-waste. Using a smartphone even slightly longer significantly reduces its environmental impact,” Shah said. “Many consumers admit to hoarding unused devices, often because of low trade-in values, the desire to keep a backup phone, or fears over data privacy. While data security has largely been addressed through strict erasure protocols, we must now improve trade-in value and challenge the mindset of relying on backup devices. Organised trade-in and refurbishment programs help build a circular economy where repair and reuse prevent waste before it begins—while also making technology more accessible.”

He added, “A device’s life isn’t limited to its first user. Refurbished smartphones can be sold again at lower costs, making digital tools more affordable and reducing electronic waste. Refurbishment gives electronics a second life, helps people on a budget, and gives our planet another chance.”