Vladislav Zaimov brings a wealth of experience to the table regarding the intersection of massive infrastructure projects and ecological responsibility. As a specialist in enterprise telecommunications and risk management, he has seen firsthand how the industry has shifted from a “deploy and forget” mentality to a sophisticated lifecycle management model. Today, we discuss the monumental achievement of recycling nearly 5,000 metric tons of e-waste in Saudi Arabia and what this means for the future of sustainable connectivity.
Since the Ericsson E-Waste Management Program has collected nearly 5,000 metric tons of equipment in Saudi Arabia since 2008, how do you manage the logistics of decommissioning and transporting bulky hardware like radios and power systems? What specific safety protocols do you prioritize during the processing phase?
Managing the removal of nearly 5,000 metric tons of hardware requires a surgical approach to logistics, especially when dealing with heavy cabinets and miles of weathered cabling. We start by mapping out the decommissioning phase to ensure that the removal of radios and power systems doesn’t disrupt active services or create physical hazards for the local teams. Once the hardware is dismantled, it is transported via secure, tracked channels to ensure that no part of the massive haul is lost or diverted to unauthorized scrapyards. During processing, we strictly adhere to international environmental and health standards to protect workers from the hazardous elements found in older electronics. It is a grueling, hands-on process that transforms cold, industrial waste into organized streams of valuable materials.
With over 1,160 metric tons recycled in just the last two years, how are faster 5G upgrade cycles impacting the volume of obsolete infrastructure? How do you ensure that sensitive network components are protected or destroyed while still meeting the requirements of approved recycling partners?
The shift toward 5G has significantly accelerated the turnover of equipment, which is why we have seen a surge of over 1,160 metric tons recycled between 2024 and 2026. This rapid modernization creates a constant stream of old hardware that could easily overwhelm local infrastructure if not for these structured “take-back” initiatives. Protecting sensitive components is our highest priority, as these parts often contain proprietary technology that must be physically destroyed to ensure network integrity. We coordinate exclusively with approved partners who hold the necessary permits to perform this high-standard destruction while maximizing the recovery of base materials. You can really feel the intensity of the work when seeing high-tech components being systematically shredded to ensure they never pose a security risk.
Given that recovered metals and components are returned to manufacturing supply chains as secondary raw materials, what are the primary challenges in maintaining a circular model? How do you measure the reduction in demand for virgin materials versus the cost of high-standard processing?
The primary challenge in a circular model is the complexity of separating the various metals and polymers used in modern telecom hardware so they can be effectively reused. When we return these materials to the manufacturing supply chain as secondary raw materials, we are directly offsetting the environmental toll of mining and smelting virgin resources. We measure success by tracking the specific weight of recovered copper and steel, which helps justify the higher operational costs of specialized, high-standard processing. Kirsty Fitzgibbon has noted that this circular use of resources is vital for reducing waste across the entire telecom sector. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that a radio decommissioned in a remote area might eventually become part of a new industrial component.
Large-scale recycling initiatives now align with national frameworks like the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030. How do you coordinate with local regulators to ensure all partners hold the necessary permits, and what metrics do you use to verify their environmental and health performance?
Our alignment with Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative provides a clear roadmap for resource efficiency and cleaner growth within the Kingdom’s industrial sector. Coordination involves a rigorous vetting process where every partner must demonstrate they hold the required local environmental permits and can meet international safety standards. We track metrics such as recycling performance rates and adherence to health protocols to verify that our partners are operating at the highest possible level. This ensures that our efforts to clean up the telecom sector do not inadvertently create new environmental burdens during the recycling phase. Seeing these national goals translate into thousands of tons of diverted waste gives our engineering teams a profound sense of purpose.
Network lifecycle planning now extends from initial design to final retirement and disposal. For IT and engineering teams managing this transition, what are the step-by-step practicalities of modernizing a site while ensuring that cables and cabinets do not end up in landfills?
Modernizing a site today is as much about removal as it is about installation, beginning with a detailed audit of every cabinet and power unit scheduled for retirement. Teams must meticulously label and package equipment for the “take-back” process, ensuring that cables and smaller components are not simply discarded as general waste. The practical step-by-step involves a formal hand-off to logistics specialists who handle the heavy lifting of transporting bulky radios to certified facilities for dismantling. This shift means that engineers are now thinking about the “end-of-life” phase from the moment they first sketch a new site design. It creates a much cleaner, more professional environment when you aren’t leaving the “ghosts” of previous technology behind at every tower.
What is your forecast for telecom e-waste management?
I believe we are moving toward a reality where the concept of “waste” is replaced entirely by permanent resource loops. As we continue to scale these programs, I expect the next few years to see an even higher percentage of recovered materials being funneled back into the production of the very 5G and 6G hardware we are currently deploying. The industry will likely adopt even stricter mandates, making it impossible to commission a new site without a certified plan for its eventual retirement and recycling. We are effectively turning the telecom sector into a self-sustaining ecosystem where every old radio is just the raw material for the next generation of connectivity.
