What do we do with 1.5 million kilos of used equipment?

“It is very important to us that all of the used equipment is disposed of in a responsible way and in line with Telenor’s ethical guidelines and environmental management system,” said Rune Døssland, Program Director, Telenor Norway. “As a result of our efforts, Telenor Norway was nominated for the “2011 InfoWorld Green 15 Awards”, for the work we have done in connection with the disposal of 9,500 base stations.”

100 percent recycled

To Telenor, disposal of the equipment means re-used, re-sold to other operators, or destroyed and recycled. When it comes to destruction and recycling, there are strict demands as to who can carry out the process. In addition, Telenor requires that documentation is issued for how the equipment is destroyed and what is done with the metals and other remaining, potentially harmful materials. The goal is that 100 percent of the equipment is recycled or re-used. To meet this goal, Telenor has entered into an agreement with Trade Wings Inc., who will serve as Telenor’s partner throughout this process.

Re-used in other networks

Jan Roger Bjørnstad serves as the project leader for Disposal of Mobile Network in Norway (DOMINO). He explains that Telenor Norway, in line with its environmental policy, works to reduce its own impact on the environment. That is why it is critical to have clear direction and full control over the disposal process, from the disassembly of the sites to the completed sale and delivery to the customer. Since most of the equipment is still in good condition for re-use in a mobile network, Telenor allows for re-use of the equipment in its other business units and the sale of it to external parties. All forms of re-use reduce the immediate effect on the environment. This contributes to a more effective use of resources on a global scare and lowers CO2 emissions.

Professional handling

“The disposal of 9,500 base stations requires professional handling, both environmentally and commercially. We want to ensure secure and controlled recycling and “zero waste”, which means that nothing ends up in the trash, but rather is completely re-used or recycled. The type of equipment that we are removing from the network does not contain harmful materials, so that our goal of 100 percent recycling/re-use is possible to achieve,” said Bjørnstad.

Around 2,000 to 3,000 empty cabinets from base stations are expected to be recycled in Norway over the next 12 months. The equipment that will not be recycled in Norway is packed up and sent to Trade Wings’ customers or to a warehouse in Germany. Whatever is not sold when the contract with Trade Wings expires (fall 2013) is recycled by one of Trade Wings’ recycling partners in Norway or Germany.”

50 tons of iron and steel

“After the base station has been swapped out, the work required to disassemble it takes about three weeks. The DOMINO project remains in step with the network swap plan, resulting in circa 2,800 sites (approximately 3,500 base stations) to be disassembled and dispatched around Easter. We are very satisfied with is and everything is going according to plan,” said Bjørnstad.

“Employees from Trade Wings will be completing the work to disassemble the equipment in Norway. Much of the equipment is already sold, some of which is being re-used in Norway and the rest is recycled in Norway. So far this year, more than 50 tons of iron and steel from the used base station cabinets has been sent for recycling in Norway,” concluded Bjørnstad.

In addition to Telenor Norway, Telenor is planning to swap out and upgrade mobile networks in Sweden, Denmark, Hungary and Serbia as well. All of these countries have been in contact with the DOMINO project to learn more about how Telenor Norway is handling the old network equipment. Telenor Sweden has already signed a similar agreement with Trade Wings, and Telenor Hungary plans to do the same.