29 January 2026 10:46
DTU Messages
Give your old phone a new life – remember to sign out before handing it in for reuse
DTU is already well underway with sustainable reuse of IT equipment – and we’re seeing strong results, for example with computers. But when it comes to mobile phones and tablets, there is a clear opportunity for improvement.
When a phone or tablet is still signed in to a personal Apple or Google account, it is locked for the next user.
In the latest overview, DTU sent 169 mobile phones and tablets for reuse, but only 46 of them could be reused.
This means that as many as 73% of the used phones/tablets could not get a new life as phones and tablets—typically because they were locked and therefore had to be dismantled so the materials could be recycled. By comparison, around 95% of DTU’s computers are reused.
50 seconds that make a difference
DTU therefore asks all employees to sign out of their account (Apple or Google) before handing in an old phone or tablet for reuse. This can be done in 50 seconds (see the attached video).
If you have personal data (photos/files/contacts) on the device that you want to keep, make sure it is synced/backed up to the cloud before you sign out of your account.
If you have questions or need help, you can contact AIT IT Support here:
Nasrin Sharif Billie
Last updated by:
Nasrin Sharif Billie
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