The O2 community’s transfer to modify off 3G subsequent month may see £13 million price of e-waste generated, in response to enterprise waste assortment agency BusinessWaste.co.uk.
The 3G switch-off on O2’s community is predicted to have an effect on roughly 4.3 million folks throughout the UK.1 It may generate an infinite 70,516 kilograms of e-waste, stated WEEE specialists with the group, roughly the identical weight as 5.9 double-decker buses. And the supplies from scrapping these outdated telephones may very well be price £13,769,488.2
Copper is probably the most plentiful steel present in units with 68,800 kilograms being generated from 4.3 million outdated units, price a complete of £509,808. Silver falls in second place with a complete of 1,505 kilograms generated at a worth of £1,223,535.
Gold is clearly probably the most priceless materials current in these cellphone, and 146 kilograms may very well be retrieved from them, with a worth of £10,397,184.
Of comparable worth is palladium inside telephones, which is predicted to generate 65 kilograms of waste, valued at £1,638,961.
What’s the swap off?
O2 will likely be switching off its 3G community beginning in April 2025. The switch-off will start within the Durham space earlier than shifting throughout the UK. Whereas different networks comparable to Vodafone and EE have already switched off their networks, O2’s is critical because of the giant variety of clients it impacts.
Networks like Tesco Cellular, GiffGaff, and Virgin Media all use the O2 community, that means it is going to additionally have an effect on their clients. Due to this fact, it’s estimated the switch-off may affect greater than 4.3 million Brits.
The considering behind switching off 3G networks is that it’ll permit extra capability and release “spectrum” that can be utilized to increase 4G and 5G networks. This could assist to fight sign lifeless spots. The federal government set a deadline of 2033 to part out each 3G and 2G.
Why will it generate e-waste?
With some units solely in a position to hook up with information by means of 3G expertise, these will not make calls, ship texts, or hook up with the web as soon as the community is switched off. Because of this, any such units turn out to be unfit for function and customers should swap to a more moderen mannequin.
Due to this fact, they’re more likely to discard their outdated units indirectly.
What can shoppers and the business do?
The most suitable choice for any outdated 3G units is to recycle them. As much as 80% of the supplies in your cellphone are recyclable, and plenty of supplies carry worth in the event that they’re extracted and reused.
Many locations provide recycling schemes that may pay you to recycle your outdated gadget comparable to O2 Recycle and Cash Magpie. There’s even a devoted comparability web site to make sure you get the very best deal to your outdated electronics, Examine and Recycle.
Mark Corridor, WEEE skilled at Enterprise Waste, feedback: “The choice to modify off 3G and 2G networks will inevitably result in an enormous quantity of e-waste and go away a big effect on the environment. E-waste is the world’s fastest-growing stable waste stream with greater than 50 million tonnes generated globally every year.
“Nevertheless, the excellent news is that with nearly all of supplies in our units recyclable, you may look to scale back your carbon footprint. By doing this you may scale back e-waste and forestall it going to landfill.
“E-waste that leads to landfills could cause injury to our soil, ecosystems, and even human populations as hazardous substances leak out and contaminate the setting. So it’s particularly necessary to make sure you recycle outdated units responsibly.”
Notes
[1] https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2025/01/survey-claims-4-3-million-uk-people-may-lose-o2-data-access-after-3g-switch-off.html#google_vignette
[2] A hyperlink to the examine is supplied right here: https://www.businesswaste.co.uk/information/3g-switch-off-could-generate-13-7m-of-e-waste/
