On Tuesday 5 August 2025, Luxembourg’s statistical institute, STATEC, revealed that most people in the Grand Duchy choose to hold on to their old electronics instead of sending them to be recycled.
According to a recent study published by STATEC, this practice has persisted in recent years, with most people keeping their devices, particularly smartphones and laptops/tablets.
STATEC noted 73% of people aged sixteen to 27 are more likely to keep their old phones, while in contrast only 62% of people aged 65 to 74 choose to hold on to their devices.
When upgrading, the main criteria behind selecting a new device are price (64%), storage and performance (49%) and brand/design (48%).
When disposing of old devices, dropping off an old smartphone at a recycling centre is more common among those over 55 (20%) than in the age group of 16 to 24 (3%).
However, the study revealed that Luxembourgish individuals often tend not to recycle their used electronic devices, with 66% of individuals choosing to keep their old phones, 18% giving them away or selling them and 14% disposing of them through recycling or electronic waste collection. 2% choose to deposit their old smartphones directly into the bin.
