Ericsson Enables Recycling of Nearly 5,000 Metric Tons of End-of-Life Telecom Equipment in Saudi Arabia

According to company reports, Ericsson has enabled the collection and recycling of nearly 5,000 metric tonnes of end-of-life telecommunications equipment in Saudi Arabia since 2008 through its E-Waste Management Program, with more than 1,160 tonnes recycled over the past two years.

The program covers the collection, decommissioning and transportation of network equipment that has reached the end of its service life, followed by recycling through Ericsson-approved recyclers. The recyclers are required to hold relevant licenses and demonstrate compliance with environmental, health and safety standards.

Recovered equipment is processed to maximize material recovery and limit the amount sent to landfill. Materials recovered from the telecom equipment are returned to manufacturing industries as secondary raw materials, providing an alternative to virgin resources.

The initiative supports the management of material flows generated as telecom operators upgrade, replace or retire network infrastructure. For the telecom sector, equipment take-back and recycling provide a route for recovering metals and other materials from network hardware after it leaves service.

“Managing network equipment at the end of its lifecycle is an important part of reducing waste across the telecom sector,” said Kirsty Fitzgibbon, Head of Marketing, Communications & Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at Ericsson Europe, Middle East & Africa. She said recovered materials can be returned to manufacturing industries as secondary raw materials, supporting circular resource use and reducing reliance on virgin materials.

In Saudi Arabia, the program also contributes to the country’s sustainability objectives under the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030. The initiative provides a structured route for retired telecom equipment to enter formal recycling channels rather than being disposed of as waste.

Ericsson launched the E-Waste Management Program globally in 2005. Previously known as the Product Take-Back Program, it is now available in 180 countries and supports the company’s broader efforts to manage products and materials throughout their lifecycle.

The program forms part of Ericsson’s sustainability strategy, including its ambition to achieve net zero across its value chain by 2040 and reduce value-chain emissions by 50% by 2030.

Source: Ericsson

SUNSHINE Spotlight: Ericsson’s Saudi Arabian take-back program has recycled nearly 5,000 tonnes of end-of-life telecom equipment since 2008, returning recovered materials to manufacturing supply chains.