Ericsson : MTN and Ericsson combat e-waster in Cameroon

MTN Cameroon and Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) have been working together successfully in 2017 under the Product Take Back program (E-waste take back) to minimize the potential environmental impact associated with the disposal of decommissioned electrical equipment. So far this year, Ericsson has successfully gathered 53 tons of waste in Cameroon and sent to its recycling partner in South Africa.

Brahma Rudra Shankar, Chief Technical Officer of MTN Cameroon says: 'We believe it is important for us to take accountability in disposing of our old equipment and this was the perfect way to go about it. MTN is committed to delivering on the three sustainability focus areas of creating sustainable economic value, reducing its environmental impact and delivering societal value in a sustainable and ethical manner. This program benefits our customers by helping them reduce their costs and risks associated with disposing electrical equipment, in addition to reducing our carbon footprint which is a daily commitment for us at MTN Cameroon.'

Olivier Vandermoten, Country Manager for Ericsson Cameroon says: 'At Ericsson, we are committed to supporting the United Nations SDGs, as part of our work in Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility. As part of our global circular economy activities in the disposal of decommissioned electrical equipment, we are successfully able to recycle 98% of all materials. With this program, we look forward to continue working with MTN to develop a sustainable future in Cameroon.'

E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams and it contains substances that could be or become hazardous if not properly recycled. This initiative is a part of Ericsson's global circular economy activities, within Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility, aimed at taking responsibility for environmental impacts of all Ericsson products and services during their lifecycle; by ensuring that end-of-life material is treated in an environmentally responsible manner.

The E-waste initiative was introduced to MTN Cameroon as part of Ericsson's modernization project with MTN. The project involved expanding both the core and RAN for MTN Cameroon. On the radio side, it included 3G expansion on 80 sites and LTE expansion on 52 sites.

Throughout the program, four 40-foot containers have been loaded with equipment at MTN Cameroon's warehouse facilities in Yaoundé and then transported by sea to the Ericsson-approved recycling partner in Durban, South Africa. There, the equipment is sorted and dismantled for the final recycling step.