BT, Cisco collaborate on equipment recycling initiative

The UK incumbent’s new programme aims to reduce business customers’ e-waste by recycling end-of-life equipment and aiding circular economy targets.

The move comes as part of BT Group’s Manifesto to move to circular products, networks and operations by 2030, and then extend this across its supply chain by 2040. As part of this transformation, BT environmental specialists will work with customers to better understand and map the role of sustainability in a digital world.

Replaced or decommissioned electronic equipment from a customer’s network will be shipped back to partner company, Cisco to be responsibly re-used or recycled through its takeback and reuse programme. The aim is that up to 99.9% of what is returned will be re-used or recycled.

BT has Cisco-certified environmental specialists in the UK, US, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland and Singapore to manage the process. Further countries will be added by the end of the year. The programme adds to the firm’s existing take-back and reuse services for smartphones providing an easy way to upgrade, securely dispose and recycle the devices using a single, complete solution that handles everything.

Hriday Ravindranath, Chief Product and Digital Officer at BT’s Global unit says: “E-waste is a growing concern and, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF), now the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Our customers and partners have made commitments to report on and improve performance in this critical area. Creating a more sustainable, circular economy, where we prioritise dematerialisation and avoid equipment going to landfill, is vital. It builds on our leadership in sustainability and will help deliver on our BT Group Manifesto commitments and ambition to connect for good.”