Ericsson enables recycling of nearly 5,000 metric tons of e-waste in Saudi Arabia

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has enabled the collection and recycling of nearly 5,000 metric tons of end-of-life telecom equipment in Saudi Arabia through its E-Waste Management Program (previously known as Product Take-Back Program) since the initiative was introduced in the Kingdom in 2008.

The program supports the collection, decommissioning, transportation, and recycling of network equipment that has reached the end of its lifecycle. In the past two years, more than 1,160 metric tons of equipment were recycled through the initiative.

The equipment collected through the program is handled by Ericsson-approved recyclers that hold the required licenses and have a proven track record of high recycling performance and compliance with international environmental, health and safety standards. Materials are recycled and recovered in a responsible manner to maximize material recovery and minimize disposal to landfill.

The initiative supports a more circular approach to telecom infrastructure while contributing to Saudi Arabia’s sustainability goals under the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030.

Kirsty Fitzgibbon, Head of Marketing, Communications & Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at Ericsson Europe, Middle East & Africa, says: “Managing network equipment at the end of its lifecycle is an important part of reducing waste across the telecom sector. Through the Ericsson E-Waste Management Program, the recovered materials are returned to different manufacturing industries as secondary raw materials, supporting circular use of resources and reducing the need for virgin materials.’’

Launched globally in 2005, the Ericsson E-Waste Management Program (formerly known as Product Take-Back Program) is available in 180 countries. It supports Ericsson’s ambition to achieve Net Zero across its value chain by 2040 and reduce value chain emissions by 50 percent by 2030.