An experience at Smartphone Shredding Service ZAURUS

What do you do with an old smartphone that you have replaced? What do you do to ensure your data remains private?

To be honest, I’ve kept two old smartphones in the corner of my storeroom for years. I don’t mean to hoard e-waste. Categorically, it’s different when recycling simple electronics like hairdryers and data devices like smartphones and hard drives. Finding a service that allowed me to protect my data privacy was difficult.

So the stars aligned (perhaps years too late) when I had to make a business trip to Tokyo, and the smartphone shredding service ZAURUS began last month in Shinjuku, Tokyo. This was an opportunity to give ZAURUS a try.

We shared the news of the release of ZAURUS earlier this month. With their efforts to recycle precious metals, ZAURUS is part of a circular economy of returning resources to the manufacturing processes of electronic devices like smartphones and tablets.

While reservations are not necessary, it is recommended. The shop is popular for its smartphone repair services and sees many customers. Booking a time will allow the staff to attend to you without distractions.

The process was short too. I was asked to fill in a contact form on a tablet. Don’t be surprised to be asked for personal identification too. “It is a deterrent to fraudsters who might be disposing of evidence of illegal activities, or even somebody else’s handphone,” the staff shared.

The staff then proceeded to remove the batteries from the smartphones. Despite the fate of the smartphones being shred, the staff treated the devices with care. The batteries are removed since improper handling or disposal is often the cause of fire incidents. Therefore, the batteries will not be shredded but handled separately.

With the batteries removed, finally comes the shredding. A large machine by the counter is in charge of the shredding of the smartphones. While intimidating, the shredding is thorough, crushing each device bit by bit until the pieces are brittle enough to run through the shred.

The whole process ended in about 15 minutes. ZAURUS makes recycling smartphones hassle-free for customers while making sure our privacy is protected. It handles the rest of the work by bringing the shredded pieces and batteries to specialists to extract rare metals like cobalt, nickel and gold. A digital certification was finally emailed to my contact address, marking the end of the process.

The ZAURUS service is just a minute’s walk away from JR Shinjuku Station (look for southeast exit). At a highly convenient location (Google Map link) and with a hassle-free process, each device processed is currently charged at 980 yen per disposal. If you ever find yourself in need to recycle your old smartphone for better purposes, ZAURUS is currently the best place you can do it!