Telstra unveils e-waste strategy

Telstra’s newly released Electronics Reuse and Recycling Strategy seeks to tackle Australia’s fastest growing waste problem — end-of-life electronics, or e-waste.

Telstra Chief Sustainability Office Tim O’Leary said the strategy aims to increase Telstra’s collection rate of old mobile phones to 33% by 2020 from a 2016 baseline, as well as strengthen community awareness of options for re-use and recycling of devices. It will see Telstra not only build on its existing recycling solutions, but embed a whole-of-life and collaborative approach that seeks to reduce the generation of e-waste across the supply chain.

“This strategy is a big step forward in our approach, and will see Telstra not only extend our recovery and recycling efforts, but also implement new re-use opportunities for retired electronics and work with the wider industry to embed product stewardship for electronics that reduces waste generation,” he said.

Serving as an important development in Telstra’s pursuit of Australian environmental leadership, the strategy represents a $1.4 million investment over three years. Telstra’s director of consumer mobile, Kevin Teoh, said the move supports both the environment and customers who love to get their hands on the latest technology.

“Telstra will beef up provision of easy and convenient re-use and recycling opportunities through our products such as Trade In and our latest Go Mobile Swap lease plans,” he said. “Internal E-Waste Recycling Hubs for employees will be rolled out across 40 of our major workplaces for item such as old phones and domestic batteries. In addition, new consumer and business campaigns will further grow awareness and encourage re-use and recycling.”

The full strategy can be found here.

Image courtesy Telstra.