Since October 14, 2026, Correios, Brazil's postal service, has offered free collection of used electronics at participating branches with the Balcão do Cidadão (Citizen's Desk) service. People in Aracaju and other municipalities in Sergipe can hand in mobile phones, laptops, tablets, cables and headphones in an open box weighing no more than 30 kg in total, without booking an appointment, according to the nationwide announcement. However, they should check the branch before leaving home: the announcement did not publish a list establishing that every branch in Sergipe is enabled.
Which devices are accepted?
Correios lists mobile phones, laptops, tablets, headphones, cables and other small electronic devices. The service is intended for equipment people no longer use and want to send into a take-back and recycling system. The published limit is up to 30 kg of equipment packed together in one box.
Not accepted through this service: disposable batteries, rechargeable batteries and light bulbs. Both the Correios announcement and Circulare's guidance expressly exclude them. Because phones and laptops may contain built-in batteries, and the published information does not address every possible configuration, check with the branch if you are unsure whether a particular device qualifies. Do not assume loose batteries will be accepted with other electronics.
How to hand in electronics, step by step
- Find a branch. Use the Correios branch locator, searching by state and municipality, to check its location and contact details. The Circulare website also provides a way to select a participating drop-off point.
- Check participation. Before traveling, ask whether that branch in Sergipe accepts electronics through Balcão do Cidadão and whether there are any additional operating requirements. Appearing on the postal branch locator does not, by itself, prove that this collection service is available there.
- Sort and pack. Put only accepted items, up to the 30 kg limit, into a cardboard box. Bring the box open; the clerk closes it at the counter. Circulare also publishes box-size guidance, which is worth checking for larger devices.
- Register the handover. According to Correios, the customer is asked for their name, CPF (Brazilian taxpayer ID), address, email and phone number. They receive a dispatch receipt at the end. Keep that receipt.
An appointment is not the same as registration. Correios says no appointment is needed. Circulare, meanwhile, directs users to find a point in advance and enter information in its system. For a Correios location with Balcão do Cidadão, the partner says there is no need to print a label. Because the published descriptions of registration differ, ask the branch which steps apply before bringing your box.
Do all Correios branches in Sergipe accept these materials?
The sources describe different geographic scopes. Correios' national communication refers to more than 6,000 Brazilian branches with Balcão do Cidadão but does not give a list of enabled addresses in Sergipe. On October 14, local outlet Agora Sergipe reported that all company-run and franchised branches in the state were equipped to receive them. That statewide claim does not, however, appear explicitly in the national announcement reviewed. The local report was available through text indexed in search results, but its webpage could not be opened directly during the October 22, 2026 check.
For residents of Aracaju, Nossa Senhora do Socorro, São Cristóvão, Barra dos Coqueiros and municipalities in the interior, the advice is therefore the same: locate the branch and confirm collection before making the trip. The official Correios service channels include WhatsApp at (11) 4003-8210, a customer-service line at 4003-8210 for calls covered by that service category and 0800 881 8210 for landline calls from other locations, under the conditions published by the company. Ask about the specific branch, including its opening hours.
What happens after delivery?
According to Correios, the boxes are forwarded to Rede Circulare, run by Circular Brain, which directs the material to approved recyclers. The company says the route to final disposal is tracked. For residents, the practical benefit is a free disposal option, provided they use a participating location and respect the list of accepted materials.
Before giving away a phone, tablet or laptop, it is sensible to back up files you want to keep and, where possible, erase accounts and personal data from the device. This is a precaution for the owner, not a specific acceptance requirement announced by Correios. Information checked on October 22, 2026; participating branches and service conditions may change.
Sources and references
- Correios, launch announcement of October 14, 2026
- Correios, additional guidance dated October 15, 2026
- Circulare, electronics disposal guidance and collection-point finder
- Correios, branch locator
- Correios, official customer-service channels
- Agora Sergipe, October 14, 2026 report on coverage in Sergipe (text accessed via search indexing; the webpage did not load directly on October 22, 2026)
