Over the past 25 years, the telecommunications industry has undergone a technological revolution. From the arrival of the first internet-enabled phones to the roll out of 3G, 4G and — most-recently — 5G, the companies who keep us connected with family and friends have needed to work hard to meet ever evolving demands.
With every upgrade comes the same challenge: how to ensure the valuable materials contained in every communications cable, mobile phone mast and even domestic broadband box is sustainably recycled. As a global leader in sustainable materials, EMR has decades of experience in returning these valuable resources back to the circular economy – from steel, aluminium and copper to the growing amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) produced in the UK each year.
With more than 60 sites located around the UK – and a focus on security and compliance that has seen EMR become the trusted partner of choice for some of the industry’s biggest names – our teams have developed an agile suite of services to solve any challenge.
Our scale, in-house logistics and continuous focus on research and development means we can recycle anything from a can to an aircraft carrier, or from a family’s wall-mounted satellite dish to the sophisticated technology held within the UK’s growing number of data centres. Driven by innovation, we are continually exploring ways to reshape today's materials for tomorrow’s needs.
For example, our recycled steel generates 85% fewer carbon emissions than virgin steel. But that’s not enough for EMR. Since 2022, EMR Reusable Steels has been leading an approach that eliminates the need for melting, long-distance transport, and other resource-intensive steps typically involved in recycling steel. This has allowed EMR to deliver steel sections to some of the UK’s most sustainable building projects, offering them an impressive 97.5% reduction in embedded carbon compared to virgin steel.
Similarly, our plastics recycling division, MBA Polymers UK, has introduced a new generation of polymers, including the world’s first recycled plastics certified by the Carbon Trust’s Lower Carbon label. Another major advantage of partnering with a recycler capable of processing such a wide array of materials is that project managers and business owners can rely on a single point of contact for all their recycling needs. EMR’s dedicated Account Managers are ready to create tailored solutions that meet your specific requirements.
As the telecommunications industry evolves beyond traditional services to embrace cloud computing, AI, private networks, and IoT solutions, EMR is prepared to help the sector meet its sustainability goals. Our teams are fully committed to supporting the industry's shift towards a lower-carbon, environmentally responsible future.
