Waste and Circularity Benchmarks for Telecoms Operators

"Most operators anticipate their recycling rates to decline, despite talking a lot about circularity. Addressing this problem will require industry-wide co-ordination."

The results of Analysys Mason's confidential survey of 31 network operators, including respondents from all regions of the world, reveal that limited infrastructure for recycling and repurposing waste is a major barrier to operators' waste and e-waste reduction goals. Operators plan to explore hardware-as-a-service business models and partnerships with waste recycling companies to mitigate these challenges.

This report provides a range of unique waste and circularity benchmarks and insights derived from a confidential survey undertaken by Analysys Mason, including:

• total waste production (hazardous and non-hazardous waste)
• expected change in waste production
• breakdown of waste production by component
• total waste recycled, reused, repurposed and sent to landfill
• barriers to waste reduction goals
• barriers to e-waste reduction
• intended strategies for waste management.