Argos pioneers over the counter trade-ins for mobiles and tablets

New recycling scheme offers instant quote in stores and payment in vouchers, and may be extended to cameras, satnavs and laptops

Argos is to become the first big UK retailer to offer customers the chance to trade-in their unwanted mobile handsets as part of a new recycling initiative.

The service, which is being offered in conjunction with the "circular economy" firm Wrap, will allow customers to take older handsets and tablets to any of the firm's 788 stores where they will be paid for the items in Argos vouchers.