Energy & Sustainability

Vodacom and du highlight recycling efforts

Vodacom and du highlight recycling efforts

Many operators are putting a lot of effort into encouraging recycling – and into being seen to lead that effort, as recent announcements from operators Vodacom in South Africa and du in the UAE indicate.

In South Africa Vodacom has partnered with Circular Energy, a not-for-profit producer responsibility organisation (PRO), to divert e-waste from landfills into recovery and recycling programmes. The website of the Barter McKellar law firm in South Africa says that PROs, “in the legal tapestry of South Africa, represent a robust commitment to bridging industry with environmental sustainability”.

South Africa is one of the highest generators of e-waste on the African continent, producing 530 million kilograms of e-waste a year, according to the UN’s Global E-Waste Monitor. This discarded waste, says Vodacom, poses serious risks of pollution, health hazards and degradation to the environment.

Vodacom says that working with Circular Energy’s takeback scheme will help to ensure the responsible collection, recycling, and environmentally sound management of Vodacom’s e-waste, as well as other waste such as batteries, lighting and lighting equipment and packaging.

This approach also complies with the South African government’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations for various waste streams to ensure producers take more responsibility for the end-of-life impact of their products.

This partnership is just one of Vodacom’s e-waste circularity initiatives, which are focused specifically on electrical equipment and electronic devices.

In the last financial year, Vodacom says it has recycled over 1,273 tonnes of network equipment. It is also involved in campaigns and programmes to raise consumer awareness about the e-waste problem and to incentivise customers to bring back their used devices for trade-in, donation or recycling.

Meanwhile UAE-headquartered operator du has announced a new initiative to recycle all spent lead acid batteries from its operations in partnership with local company Dubatt Battery Recycling.

This proactive engagement in battery recycling, says du, aligns with its commitment to ecological sustainability and resource efficiency.

Indeed, it points out that ius sustainability strategy encompasses significant energy efficiency initiatives such as the deployment of solar panels on towers, implementing free-cooling systems, engaging in sustainable procurement practices, and rigorous waste management, not to mention installing 3M sunscreens and motion sensors, and adopting energy-efficient technologies.



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