Uncovering the Urgency Behind a Growing Crisis in the Telecom Sector
As the telecom industry rapidly evolves—with widespread 5G rollouts, ongoing digital transformation, and increasingly short hardware lifecycles—a silent crisis is intensifying behind the scenes: telecom e-waste. While technological progress has revolutionized connectivity, it has also generated mountains of outdated and discarded electronic equipment.
E-waste is now the fastest-growing waste stream globally, and the telecom sector plays a significant role in this surge. The urgency to address this challenge goes beyond regulatory compliance—it’s about environmental responsibility, resource efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
The Scope of the Problem
According to the Global E-Waste Monitor 2024 by UNITAR and ITU:
- The world generated 62 million metric tons of e-waste in 2022, and this is projected to reach 82 million tons by 2030.
- Less than 18% of this waste is properly documented and recycled.
- Telecom infrastructure—ranging from network towers and baseband units to routers and signal amplifiers—contributes significantly to enterprise-grade e-waste.
In telecom, much of this waste originates from:
- Equipment decommissioned due to network upgrades (e.g., 3G to 5G transitions)
- Faulty or obsolete parts stored in warehouses without end-of-life planning
- Redundant IT assets in NOCs and data centers
Despite being rich in copper, gold, palladium, and rare earth elements, most of this equipment ends up incinerated or in landfills, leading to:
- Toxic emissions from burned components
- Groundwater contamination due to heavy metal leaching
- Massive loss of recoverable materials worth billions of dollars
Environmental and Social Impact
The environmental toll of poorly managed e-waste is profound. Just one metric ton of telecom hardware can contain:
- Up to 300 grams of gold
- Over 100 kg of copper
- Several grams of critical materials like neodymium and tantalum
When improperly discarded, these elements become pollutants rather than assets. Additionally, many telecom companies outsource e-waste disposal to regions with weaker environmental regulations, leading to informal recycling in unsafe conditions, exposing workers—often children—to health hazards.
The Opportunity in Circular Practices
The good news? There is a path forward, and it starts with rethinking how we manage telecom equipment at the end of its lifecycle. Circular economy models are not only environmentally sound—they also make business sense.
Here’s how the telecom industry can respond:
1. Refurbish and Reuse
- Reuse extends product lifespans by 5–7 years, reducing the need for new manufacturing.
- For example, redeploying a single BBU avoids 120 kg CO₂e emissions compared to producing new.
- Platforms like NetZero.tel facilitate the exchange of refurbished equipment across operators, OEMs, and ISPs.
2. Responsible Recycling
- Engaging with R2-certified or e-Stewards-certified recyclers ensures toxic components are safely processed, and valuable metals are recovered.
- The Royal Mint recently launched a project extracting gold from e-waste, showcasing how high-value recovery is scalable.
- According to Modern Waste Solutions, recycling telecom assets can return up to 70% of raw material value.
3. Data-Driven Sustainability Reporting
- With platforms like NetZero, telecom companies can quantify and report their carbon savings—an essential step in meeting ESG goals and regulatory requirements.
- Transparent reporting also helps win stakeholder trust and attract green investment.
4. Policy Alignment
- Follow standards like ITU-T L.1023, which guide best practices in equipment reuse and recycling.
- Align internal processes with GSMA’s Mobile Net Zero framework to ensure emissions reporting includes Scope 3 (supply chain and waste).
Industry Example: Real-World Telecom E-Waste Circularity
Vodafone: Circular Asset Marketplace & Device Recovery
Vodafone has implemented a comprehensive circular economy strategy encompassing both network infrastructure and consumer devices:
- Network Equipment Reuse: In FY24, Vodafone reused, resold, or recycled 96% of its network waste. Through its internal Asset Marketplace, the company saved €3.9 million and avoided over 398 metric tons of CO₂e emissions by repurposing decommissioned equipment across its operations.
- Device Trade-In & Recycling: Vodafone's "One for One" initiative in Germany, in partnership with Closing the Loop, has collected over 1.5 million end-of-life phones since 2022. This effort has prevented 80 tons of hazardous waste from entering landfills and recovered valuable materials, including 7 kg of gold, 6,300 kg of copper, and 37 kg of silver.
BT: Monetizing Surplus Copper Cables
BT has capitalized on its infrastructure upgrades by recycling surplus materials:
- Copper Cable Recycling: As part of its £15 billion full-fibre broadband rollout, BT entered into a recycling agreement for surplus copper cables, securing an upfront prepayment of £105 million. The recycled copper is processed into granules, supporting BT's sustainability goals and reducing environmental impact.
How NetZero and Are Leading the Change
The Telecom Sustainability Alliance (TSA), of which NetZero.tel is a founding platform, is creating new collaborative opportunities for telecom companies to adopt circular practices.
NetZero offers:
- A searchable inventory of 50,000+ telecom parts
- Access to certified recyclers
- ESG-compliant carbon reporting
- Consulting for circular procurement
Operators, vendors, and investors can use NetZero to reduce Scope 3 emissions, meet regulatory mandates, and unlock value from idle equipment.
Get Involved
The e-waste challenge is real—but so is the opportunity. Operators who take action now will recover value, strengthen ESG compliance, and set a leadership example in sustainability.
👉 Visit NetZero.tel to explore the platform or contact us to request a carbon audit or inventory consultation.