Mobile recycling programmes in Telenor Group

During 2009, several mobile recycling programmes (both global and local) have been launched throughout the Group. As of today, mobile recycling programmes are in operation in 6 companies throughout the Telenor Group (in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro). The total number of collected handsets was approximately 140,000 in 2009 (and 300.000 in total between 2007 and 2009). Besides the existing activities, several companies within the Group are in the process of establishing their local projects.

90 per cent of the mobile components can be recycled

The discarded mobile phones carry value in several ways. When a mobile phone has reached its end of life, over 90 per cent of the components can be recycled. This in turn helps reduce the need for extraction of natural resources to build new phones.

“Old Phone, New Life” – the global recycling programme

In 2009, Telenor Group introduced “Old Phone, New Life” - a global scheme for collecting, re-using and recycling mobile phones - to encourage our companies to establish recycling programmes.
The “Old Phone, New Life” scheme allows people to hand in their discarded phones through a network of Telenor retailers. Once collected, the phones are sent to Zonzoo (ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified company specialising in the safe disposal of mobile phones.)

Old phones are redirected to new markets

Those phones that are in good condition can be refurbished and redirected to second hand markets. Restored mobiles are sold in Asian markets for a low price, delivering the benefit of telecommunications to those people who could not afford buying new handsets.

 Phones that cannot be re-used are sent to end-of-life refining companies operating in the EU.

 “Old Phone, New Life” launched in Norway and Montenegro

The global campaign has been launched in Telenor in Norway and Promonte in Montenegro. For each recycled phone, Promonte will donate a specific amount of money earmarked to help solving major environmental issues in Montenegro.

In Norway, the Norwegian Red Cross receives financial support to plant 25 trees in vulnerable areas in Asia, for every mobile phone delivered to Telenor.

Local mobile recycling programmes have achieved remarkable results

Although Telenor Group is encouraging all companies within the Group to join the “Old Phone, New Life” global scheme, we also welcome local recycling programmes, that are in line with the Group policies as well as local and international environmental standards.

In Sweden, Denmark, Serbia and Hungary local recycling programmes are in operation.

Telenor Sweden has collected nearly 70,000 mobile phones in 2009. With this result, Telenor Sweden has collected (and recycled) the highest number of used mobile phones in the Group in 2009.

Telenor Serbia has been awarded with the ”Green IT Globe” for its results in mobile recycling and overall contribution to environmental protection.

Great care must be taken in the recycling process

As recycling processes involve significant risk to both workers and the environment, great care must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure in recycling operations and leaching of materials. Therefore, Telenor Group focuses on HSSE aspects of recycling and increasing control over the mobile recycling value chain by working with local partners compliant to our Supplier Conduct Principles (SCP).

Share the benefit of mobile recycling

As part of our recycling ambitions, we encourage all companies within the Group to share the benefit of mobile recycling with local communities, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and organisations working on environmental protection. 

Untapped potential for collecting used handsets

Although we received good results from most of the companies, there is still an untapped potential for collecting used handsets within the Group. In the future, Telenor Group will continue the implementation of self-sustaining handset recycling programmes in all Telenor companies as well as increase control in the mobile recycling value chain by working with trusted recycling partners.