Bangladesh’s digital expansion is creating an unexpected by-product: a growing stream of obsolete telecom equipment containing valuable recoverable materials. Yet, as mobile networks, towers and data infrastructure expand, the country’s formal telecom e-waste recycling capacity remains far behind the rising waste stream.
Industry players estimate Bangladesh generates several thousand tonnes of telecom-related e-waste annually, although no comprehensive official database separately tracks the sector’s waste generation.
As mobile networks, fibre infrastructure, towers, data centres and enterprise networks are upgraded, obsolete routers, switches, servers, transmission equipment, base-station components, batteries, cables, racks and printed circuit boards are entering the waste stream.
The discarded equipment contains valuable materials such as copper, aluminium, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastics and precious-metal-bearing components. However, Bangladesh still lacks the collection networks, specialised processing facilities and recovery capabilities needed to develop a mature recycling market.
“The market is underdeveloped yet rapidly formalising,” said M A Hossain, managing director of JR Recycling Solutions Ltd, which has been involved in formal e-waste management and recycling since 2011.
JR Recycling Solutions entered telecom e-waste recycling as Bangladesh underwent 2G, 3G and 4G modernisation and tower upgrades. The company handles obsolete telecom infrastructure through decommissioning, collection, dismantling, secure data destruction and material segregation.
GreenTech Recycle, which has more than eight years of experience in e-waste recycling and IT Asset Disposition, also expanded into telecom e-waste as network upgrades created more obsolete equipment and recoverable resources.
Md Saddam Hossain, proprietor and CEO of GreenTech Recycle, said Bangladesh generates several thousand tonnes of telecom-related e-waste annually, although no official national dataset separately tracks the sector.
JR Recycling cited the UN’s Global E-waste Monitor, which estimates Bangladesh generates 367,000 to 400,000 tonnes of total e-waste annually. Although telecom equipment represents only a share of this volume, recyclers consider it valuable because of its concentrated recoverable materials.
For recyclers, telecom e-waste is an “urban mine” containing resources such as gold, silver and palladium in circuit boards and connectors, copper in cables and transformers, and aluminium, steel and iron in equipment housings, towers, racks and cabinets. It also includes large volumes of lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries and plastics.
JR Recycling’s processing system includes collection, inventory audits, secure data destruction, dismantling, material separation and PCB fractioning for export or refining.
Formal recycling struggles amid informal dominance
The biggest challenge is the gap between the growing waste stream and Bangladesh’s formal processing capacity. GreenTech Recycle has overall e-waste processing capacity of 120 tonnes a month or 1,460 tonnes a year, while developing specialised telecom e-waste capacity.
JR Recycling said formal e-waste processing capacity remains significantly below total annual generation. Citing TIB research, the company said 97 per cent of overall e-waste is handled through informal scrap channels, with only 3 per cent processed by authorised formal facilities. Its own annual processing capacity is 25,000–30,000 tonnes, including operations at its Savar plant.
Industry players said the challenge also lies in collecting reliable, traceable and compliant waste. JR Recycling said informal traders create competition by offering higher upfront prices without bearing the same environmental, safety and regulatory costs as formal recyclers.
GreenTech identified collection logistics, informal recycling, investment needs and a shortage of specialised expertise as key challenges, while seeking partnerships with telecom operators, tower companies, ISPs, equipment vendors, data centres and enterprises for reliable collection channels.
BTRC moves to formalise telecom e-waste market
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has expanded its registration framework for telecom e-waste management and recycling.
According to Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) research, 14 organisations are listed or registered with BTRC for telecom e-waste activities, with seven holding dual approval from the Department of Environment (DoE) and BTRC as certified recyclers and handlers.
BTRC recently approved registration certificates for GreenTech Recycle and Panna Battery Ltd (Rotary Unit) after inspections of their facilities and review of their documents, manpower, financial capacity and recycling systems. Panna Battery’s approval was issued subject to submission of updated Department of Environment clearance.
Registered recyclers must comply with DoE requirements and maintain international standards in e-waste management. Recycled equipment cannot be sold domestically as refurbished products, while telecom operators must obtain BTRC approval before handing over telecom e-waste. The registration remains valid for three years, subject to environmental clearance validity.
GreenTech’s priorities include strengthening specialised machinery, technical capabilities, processing systems, skilled manpower and partnerships with telecom-sector waste generators. JR Recycling sees opportunities in tower and BTS decommissioning, telecom battery recycling, high-grade PCB processing and IT Asset Disposition as 4G expansion, future 5G infrastructure, FTTH growth and legacy equipment replacement create new waste streams.
But both companies called for faster regulatory development. JR Recycling proposed a digital single-window approval system combining BTRC and Department of Environment processes, a national tracking system for telecom e-waste, stronger Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements and incentives for specialised recycling machinery.
It also suggested integrating informal collectors into the formal system, establishing industrial e-waste zones and strengthening data-security standards. GreenTech called for clearer regulations, stronger EPR frameworks, better enforcement and continued government support.
Industry players say the opportunity goes beyond disposing of obsolete telecom equipment.
A mature recycling industry could create businesses around equipment decommissioning, collection, secure data destruction, battery recycling, metal recovery, PCB processing and secondary raw-material production.
However, capturing that value will depend on whether formal recyclers can secure sufficient equipment, invest in specialised machinery and compete with informal channels while meeting environmental and regulatory requirements.
BTRC’s registration of GreenTech and Panna Battery marks an early step towards building a formal market around a waste stream expected to grow with Bangladesh’s digital expansion.
