Samsung’s Note 7 recycling plan includes reselling the device in some countries

Greenpeace protests Samsung at MWC 2017.

Samsung has announced a recycling plan for the Galaxy Note 7, which includes the possibility of the device hitting the market again as a refurbished product. The Note 7 was famously recalled shortly after launch due to faulty, potentially explosive batteries. After the recall, Samsung was left with an estimated 4.3 million Note 7s taking up space in a warehouse (and most likely setting fire to that warehouse). Now what?

In a blog post, Samsung laid out three "principles" for dealing with the Note 7 bodies in an "environmentally-friendly manner."

First, devices shall be considered to be used as refurbished phones or rental phones where applicable.

Second, salvageable components shall be detached for reuse.

Third, processes such as metals extraction shall be performed using environmentally friendly methods.

Refurbishing the phone is the most interesting option. Samsung says that refurbishing applicability is "dependent upon consultations with regulatory authorities and carriers as well as due consideration of local demand. The markets and release dates will be determined accordingly." A Samsung representative gave a bit more info to The Verge, saying, "Samsung will not be offering refurbished Galaxy Note 7 devices for rent or sale in the US." When a refurb does happen, "the product details including the name, technical specification, and price range will be announced when the device is available," according to the company. So it seems everything is on the table right now, including giving the Note 7s a new name and tweaking the specs.

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