- Vodacom South Africa and Circular Energy have partnered to divert growing volumes of electronic waste (e-waste) from landfills into recovery and recycling programmes.
- Vodacom is supporting a move away from linear consumption patterns – where products are made, used and then discarded – towards a more circular economy.
Telecommunications company Vodacom South Africa and not-for-profit producer responsibility (EPR) organisation Circular Energy have partnered to divert growing volumes of electronic waste (e-waste) from landfills into recovery and recycling programmes.
E-waste has become one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world as demand for technologies rises. Discarded waste poses serious risks of pollution, health hazards, and degradation to the environment.
South Africa is one of the highest generators of e-waste across Africa, producing 530 million kilogrammes of e-waste a year, equating to nearly eight kilogrammes per person, according to the United Nations’ Global E-Waste Monitor.
“E-waste is our business’s second most material environmental issue, and encouraging circularity is key to our purpose, which includes empowering people while protecting the planet,” said Vodacom South Africa external affairs director Takalani Netshitenzhe.
Vodacom is supporting a move away from linear consumption patterns – where products are made, used and then discarded – towards a more circular economy, which minimises resource consumption and waste by extending the lifecycle of products.
In line with South Africa’s EPR regulations for various waste streams, which ensure producers take more responsibility for their product’s end-of-life impact, Vodacom’s joint initiative with Circular Energy will ensure a robust system to collect, recycle, and reuse waste responsibly across the company’s operations. Vodacom recycled over 1,273 t of network equipment in the last financial year.
Vodacom will work with Circular Energy’s takeback scheme to ensure the responsible collection, recycling, and environmentally friendly management of its e-waste, as well as other waste such as batteries, lighting and lighting equipment, and packaging.
According to the GSMA, small information technology equipment and electronics constitute around 9 per cent of the total e-waste generated globally.
The adoption of circular models shifts the focus to waste reduction and resource conservation while creating economic opportunities and opening pathways to unlock significant value currently lost in traditional ‘linear’ waste processes.
The establishment of critical waste collection systems and recycling infrastructure promotes waste diversion from landfills and supports economic development in South Africa with the emergence of a green economy.
This will create much-needed income opportunities, green entrepreneurship, jobs, and markets for the collection, extraction, and recycling of materials.
“Through Circular Energy’s initiatives, Vodacom will realise not only reduced environmental footprints but also substantial economic and skills development benefits within the value chain,” said Circular Energy CEO Patricia Schröder.
As part of the collaboration with Circular Energy, Vodacom customers can request that pre-loved devices be collected from their homes and recycled by completing a request form on the producer responsibility organisation’s website.
“Consumers play a pivotal role in promoting a circular economy. At Vodacom, we are encouraging our customers to reduce e-waste through our circularity initiatives actively,” said Netshitenzhe, noting that this includes repairing, reusing and recycling devices in the RedLovesGreen programme and taking advantage of Circular Energy’s home collection scheme.