Only one in six people in the UK recycles unwanted gadgets such as mobile phones, digital cameras or games consoles, missing out on potential money-making opportunities, according to a new report last Thursday.

Research by mobile phone giant O2 showed that more than 17.5 million of these gadgets are thrown out each year, but half of people bin them, give them to someone else, or take them to a tip.

A survey of more than 2,000 adults showed that more than a quarter did not think recycling was worth it, one in 10 could not be bothered and one in 20 did not know they could make money.

Chris Gamlin, of O2, said: “Millions of people are missing out on huge sums of money due to their recycling reluctance.

“In addition to benefiting from cash in their pockets, O2 Recycle customers are also helping the environment and supporting a number of good causes.”

O2 is holding a ‘recyclathon’ this month in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most mobile phones recycled in one week.