The rising tide of e-waste and the race for critical materials
Electronic waste is the world’s fastest-growing waste stream, and the challenge is escalating quickly. Demand for digital infrastructure is soaring, putting unsustainable pressure on critical raw materials such as copper, cobalt, lithium, rare earth elements and gold. These elements are the backbone of modern networks and clean energy, yet every year vast amounts are lost when equipment is scrapped.
This year’s International E-Waste Day (14 October 2025), led by the WEEE Forum, shines a spotlight on these critical raw materials. Many are mined in only a handful of countries, making recovery through reuse and recycling essential to powering the green and digital transition.
Without urgent action, discarded equipment will continue to lock away resources we cannot afford to waste, driving further reliance on environmentally destructive virgin mining.
From waste to results: real-world recovery
At TXO, we believe there is a better way. By combining reuse, resale and responsible recycling, we help organisations recover these resources, cut costs, reduce emissions and build resilience into their operations. International E-Waste Day 2025 is the moment to act, and to show what urban mining can already achieve.
Case study: SWB Bus und Bahn
In Bonn, Germany, SWB Bus und Bahn faced the challenge of redundant infrastructure weighing heavily on its network. Working with TXO, the operator safely removed 350 km of obsolete cables, reclaiming 150 tonnes of copper in the process. The project avoided 237 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, improved safety by clearing potential fire risks and delivered a positive financial outcome.
Read the full case study: Sustainable urban mining: How SWB Bus und Bahn reclaimed 150 tonnes of copper
Case study: Telia Norway
When modernising its nationwide 5G network, Telia Norway turned to TXO to process more than 70 tonnes of legacy equipment. Using TXO’s i-JUDGE system to assess 12,805 dismantled parts, the operator was able to reuse 622 parts internally, resell 1,723 across 35 countries and responsibly recycle the remainder. This circular approach advanced Telia’s goal of achieving zero waste by 2030, while cutting emissions and maximising financial recovery.
Read the full case study: Telia’s path to zero waste
Case study: BT Group ECO programme
Through its award-winning Exchange Clearance Operation (ECO) with TXO, BT Group shows how large-scale network recovery delivers both environmental and financial impact. Together we have:
- Reclaimed 200+ tonnes of copper cable
- Recycled 2,000+ tonnes of lead-acid batteries
- Extracted 3,000+ tonnes of legacy assets from exchanges
- Generated £4 million net return
This programme demonstrates the power of scaling urban mining, supporting BT’s ambition to become a fully circular business by 2030.
Read the full case study: Empowering circular networks with BT Group’s ECO programme
David Evans, Head of Asset Global Recovery & Services at TXO, comments:
“Urban mining isn’t theory; it’s happening right now across our global customer base, delivering real financial and sustainability gains. From reclaiming copper cables to extending the life of complex telecom equipment, we are seeing real results that cut carbon, return financial gains, and support faster, lower-risk modernisation at scale. The more organisations embrace this approach, the faster we move towards a truly circular industry.”
Our progress in numbers
Beyond individual projects, TXO’s group-wide activity shows the scale of change already underway. Guided by five principles: transparency, accountability, sustainability, innovation and community benefit, we deliver measurable results that contribute to a more circular economy.
Over the 12 months to 31 August 2024, TXO has:
- Kept 1,886 tonnes of e-waste out of landfill through responsible recycling
- Repaired and returned 13,451 products to service, extending their useful life
- Prevented thousands of tonnes of CO₂ emissions by prioritising reuse and secondary material recovery
Julia Evans, Group Operations Director at TXO, adds:
“Recovering critical raw materials is not just about sustainability, it is about resilience. Every part reused or recycled reduces dependency on virgin mining, strengthens supply chains and delivers real business benefits. That is the kind of impact organisations are looking for, and it is the impact TXO enables every day.”
Leading the way this International E-Waste Day
The reality is clear: without rapid change, the cost to both business and the environment will only grow. With the right strategy, however, e-waste becomes a source of resilience, revenue and sustainability.