What Is the PlayStation 5 Worth Now?
The current trade-in value for a PlayStation 5 ranges from $200 to $380, depending on its condition and where you take it in. When new, the console cost $499 USD. The best price goes to units in "like new" or "mint" condition, while consoles that are still functioning but have some wear will get 70-85% of their original value. Devices marked as "good," with minor issues like scratches or dents, will fetch around 40-65%. If the console is broken and non-functional, it might only be worth $20 to $38.
How to Wipe Data Before Recycling the PlayStation 5
To ensure your data stays safe before recycling or trading in your PlayStation 5, follow these steps:
- Back up all saves to PlayStation Plus cloud storage or a USB drive.
- Deactivate as primary console from Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play.
- Go to Settings > System > System Software > Reset Options > Reset Your Console.
- Select "Reset and Remove Everything."
- Remove any disc and unplug external drives.
Wiping data is important before you recycle or trade in your PlayStation 5. It ensures that no personal information remains on the device, protecting your privacy and security.
Where to Recycle or Trade In the PlayStation 5
Several options are available for recycling or trading in your PlayStation 5:
- Brand Programme: Check if Sony has a specific programme for trade-in or recycling.
- Third-party Trade-In Services: Use platforms like Back Market, SellCell, Gazelle, and GameStop. These services offer cash but often require shipping fees.
- Retailer Programmes: Major retailers such as Best Buy, Staples (US), Currys (UK), and JB Hi-Fi (Australia) have trade-in programmes that provide store credit or cash.
- Certified definition of e-waste Recyclers: If the PlayStation 5 has no trade-in value, take it to a certified e-waste recycler.
What Materials Are Recovered from the PlayStation 5?
The PlayStation 5 contains several valuable materials: steel, aluminum, copper, plastic, gold, and tin. Given its weight of 4500 grams (or nearly five kilograms), there's a significant amount of these materials to recover. Steel and aluminum are commonly used in manufacturing new products, while copper is critical for wiring and circuitry. Plastics can be recycled into various components or new consoles. Gold and tin are valuable metals that can be reused in electronics production.
Environmental Impact of Recycling vs Landfill
Recycling the PlayStation 5 has a far lesser environmental impact than sending it to landfill. Mining just one tonne of gold from ore generates about 18,000 tonnes of waste, whereas recovering gold from circuit boards is up to 80 times more efficient. A single smartphone contains roughly $1-2 worth of recoverable precious metals, highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of recycling electronics. Landfilling devices can lead to fires caused by lithium batteries and toxic metal leaching into groundwater, harming ecosystems and human health.
By choosing to recycle your PlayStation 5, you not only reduce waste but also support a more sustainable approach to electronic device disposal.
Top picks: tools and equipment
Independent picks reviewed by eCycling Central's editorial team. Last checked: May 2026. Links are affiliate (we may earn a commission at no cost to you).
Specs: 70W, digital temperature control, ESD-safe
Typical price: £99-£139
Why it matters: professional soldering iron used by repair shops worldwide; lasts 10+ years; recyclable tip cartridges
Specs: 17 bits + ratcheting handle, German-made
Typical price: £49-£69
Why it matters: fits 99% of household appliance fasteners; lifetime tool - won't strip screws like cheap sets
Specs: Tested + certified by Amazon, 1yr guarantee
Typical price: £199-£999
Why it matters: best-value way to buy iPhone - 30-50% off new, identical experience, year-long Amazon guarantee on the device
Specs: Tested + certified, 1yr guarantee
Typical price: £149-£799
Why it matters: Galaxy S22/S23/S24 at 40-60% off retail; ideal way to skip the trade-in middleman and buy direct
PlayStation 5: complete recycling + trade-in guide (2026-05-20)
Trade-in vs recycle decision
Use this matrix to decide:
| Device condition | Best route | Typical net value |
|---|
| Working, 0-2 years old | Manufacturer trade-in or carrier upgrade | 35-65% of MSRP |
| Working, screen damaged but functional | eBay / Swappa / Music Magpie | 20-45% of MSRP |
| Working, 2-4 years old | Music Magpie / BackMarket buyback | 15-25% of MSRP |
| Working, 4-6 years old | Specialist refurbisher | 5-15% of MSRP |
| 6+ years old OR not working | Certified recycler (free) | $0 but avoided landfill fines |
Compare 7 buyback prices for PlayStation 5 in 30 seconds via our Trade-In Best Price Finder.
Data sanitisation steps
- Sign out of all cloud services - Apple ID, Google account, Microsoft account, Samsung account. For Apple devices, removing iCloud lock is mandatory or the next owner can't activate.
- Factory reset via Settings menu:
- iOS: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Erase All Content
- Android: Settings → System → Reset → Factory data reset
- Windows: Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC → Remove everything
- macOS: Apple menu → System Settings → General → Transfer or Reset
- Verify the reset completed - powered-on device should land on setup-from-scratch screen.
- For sensitive data: factory reset alone is insufficient for SSDs (drive may retain recoverable data). Use a certified ITAD provider with NIST media sanitisation Purge. See Hard Drive Destruction Cost Calculator.
Recoverable materials
Smartphones + tablets like PlayStation 5 contain (per Apple environmental reports + iFixit teardowns):
- Aluminium frame: 1-3% mass recovered at certified processors
- Copper wiring: 60-80% recovery rate
- Gold + silver in connectors: 35-65% recovery
- Lithium-ion battery: must be separated stream (fire risk in mixed loads)
- Rare earth magnets in speakers + haptics: limited recovery economically
Total recoverable material value per smartphone-class device: $1.50-$4.20 at current commodity prices. Look up live value via our Scrap Value Calculator.
Manufacturer programs available
Most major device brands offer free recycling for their own devices:
- Apple Trade In - free shipping, in-store credit or gift card payout
- Samsung Recycle Direct - free mail-in, gift card payout
- Google Pixel Trade-In - free mail-in, instant credit
- Microsoft Trade-In - via authorised partners, gift card payout
- Dell Reconnect (US) - free in-store via Goodwill partnership
- HP Planet Partners - free mail-in label
For full verified list per device brand: Manufacturer Take-Back Finder.
Compliance + penalties
Personal data on a disposed device that isn't properly sanitised exposes the original owner to GDPR / state privacy law liability:
- UK GDPR + EU GDPR Art 32: appropriate technical + organisational measures - penalties up to £17.5M / €20M or 4% global turnover
- US state laws (CCPA, NY SHIELD Act, CO CDPA): per-incident penalties $2,500-$7,500
- HIPAA (US healthcare): per-incident penalties $137-$68,928 + per-record $137-$2,134
For any data-bearing device, request a Certificate of Destruction or use a free template via GDPR Data Erasure Certificate Generator.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell PlayStation 5 if it's still on the carrier blocklist? No - blocked devices have negligible resale value and reputable buyback services reject them. Contact the original carrier to remove the block first (verify with original purchase records). If blocked due to non-payment, settle the account before listing.
What about devices with broken screens but working internals? Refurbishers like Music Magpie + BackMarket pay 40-60% of working-condition value for broken-screen devices. Worth listing - the screen swap costs them $30-$80 wholesale.
Should I remove the battery before recycling? No - certified recyclers want intact devices. Manual battery removal risks puncture + lithium-ion fire. Loose batteries also need separate hazmat shipping stream.
Related tools + guides
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Device data verified against manufacturer environmental reports + iFixit repairability database + current commodity prices as of 2026-05-20. Operated by Defining Style Limited (UK Companies House 10572391, ICO Registration ZA711914).
