eRecycling in Denmark

As Telenor Denmark undergoes a massive upgrade to its mobile network, they are confronted with the challenge of what to do with the electronic waste. Out with the old, in with the new results in a whole lot of old to take care of, which is why Telenor has teamed up with Nokia Siemens Networks. In their agreement, Nokia Siemens ensures that all electronic waste will be handled in a responsible and environmentally-friendly way.

Responsible e-waste disposal is a priority

As a result of the network upgrade, Telenor is disposing of its old power supplies, radio transmitters, circuits, computers and more, all material that require safe and responsible methods of disposal or recycling.

“We chose to work with Nokia Siemens Networks because they were willing to take care of the entire amount of e-waste, and not just part of it,” said Claes Amundsen, Senior Advisor, Corporate Social Responsibility for Telenor Denmark. “Other companies offered to purchase only part of the waste, which would have resulted in an environmental challenge in terms of disposal of the remainders.”

Taking precautions helps prevent problems

Nearly nine million tons of electronic waste is generated in Europe each year. This waste is known to contain harmful chemical substances, including cadmium, lead, mercury, PVC and brominated flame retardants that can affect the hormonal balance in humans.

“There are numerous examples of electronic waste ending up in dumps in Europe, Asia and Afria, and this waste poses a serious threat to both the environment and the health of the people living near these dump sites. This is why Telenor is extremely selective in choosing partners to handle our discarded equipment,” said Amundsen.

Read more about Telenor’s management of natural resources and waste