Telecom Equipment Recycling & ITAD
Network equipment end-of-life processing, recycling, and secure data destruction for telecommunications companies.
What telecom equipment does EverTrade recycle?
EverTrade recycles routers, switches, firewalls, cabling, UPS systems, servers, and storage media. We can track serial numbers and provide NIST SP 800-88-aligned data destruction for data-bearing equipment.
Explore network equipment recyclingNetwork infrastructure specialists
Network upgrades can leave telecom companies with large volumes of retired equipment. EverTrade handles enterprise network gear at the end of its useful life, with documented custody and qualified downstream processing.
Equipment recycling
On-site pickup for Cisco, Juniper, Arista, and other enterprise gear.
Config wiping
Network configurations and data are securely erased before disposition.
Bulk processing
Coordinated receiving for projects ranging from a few racks to large refreshes.
Compliance tracking
Inventory and disposition records stay connected to the project.
Telecom decommissions recover more than the average load
Network gear contains circuit boards, copper connections, and refined metals. A sorted telecom load can support more material recovery than a typical mixed-electronics pickup.
- Switches and routers contain copper and gold-bearing circuit boards.
- Retired cable provides a direct copper recovery stream.
- Power supplies, UPS units, and batteries contain recoverable metals.
- We sort full loads for recovery.
Telecom decommissioning waves
Telecom equipment often retires in waves as technology changes. Knowing this pattern can help IT teams plan a refresh. It also helps us schedule a pickup around your work.
5G build-out and 4G/LTE displacement
Houston remains an active 5G market. Carriers add 5G while they update older 4G and LTE sites. These projects can retire eNodeB equipment, microwave gear, and legacy line cards in planned waves.
Copper-to-fiber transitions
Telecom providers across the metro continue to replace copper networks with fiber. A project may retire copper cable and cross-connect frames. It can also remove PBX or POTS equipment from customer sites.
Central office consolidation + datacenter refresh
Colocation sites often refresh servers and network gear on a set cycle. Private telecom systems may stay in service longer. Both project types can produce dense loads of reusable and recyclable material.
Useful Life & Refresh Cadence: Industry Standards
Useful life is not one set number. Active equipment includes switches, access points, and endpoints. Its life often depends on software support and security patches. Passive equipment includes cabling and racks. Its life often depends on the bandwidth it can support.
Critical systems may need a shorter refresh cycle. Examples include 911 centers, fire-alarm communications, and SCADA systems. Standards such as NFPA 72, ISO 22301, and NERC CIP may also apply. The table shows common ranges and reference points.
| Equipment class | Typical useful life | Refresh trigger events | Standards / references |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layer 2/3 switches, routers, firewalls | 5–7 yrs | Software or security support ends. | Cisco and Juniper lifecycle policies. IRS Publication 946. |
| Wireless APs / WLAN controllers | 3–5 yrs | A new Wi-Fi generation or a higher capacity need. | IEEE 802.11. ISO/IEC 27001 patching expectations. |
| PBX / VoIP / SIP systems | 7–10 yrs | A codec, protocol, or manufacturer support period ends. | ITIL guidance. Avaya, Mitel, and Cisco lifecycle policies. |
| Structured cabling (Cat 5e/6/6a, fiber) | 15–25 yrs (passive) | The site needs more bandwidth than the cable can support. | ISO/IEC 11801. NEC Article 800. OSHA 1910.305. |
| UPS / battery backup | 5–7 yrs (battery) / 10–15 yrs (chassis) | Battery performance drops or an inspection calls for replacement. | NFPA 70. OSHA 1910.305. Manufacturer schedules. |
| Tower / outside-plant electronics (BTS, RRU, microwave) | 7–12 yrs | A radio network upgrade or license change. | ANSI/TIA-222. FCC Part 27. |
| IP phones / endpoint hardware | 5–7 yrs | Firmware, operating-system, or patch support ends. | Manufacturer lifecycle policy. ISO 27001 A.8.1. |
| Mission-critical / safety-coupled gear (911 PSAP, fire alarm comms, SCADA) | 3–5 yrs (driven by reliability budget) | Reliability needs or a required replacement cycle. | NFPA 72. ISO 22301. NERC CIP. |
Useful-life ranges are general guidance based on common industry practice and standards references. They do not constitute tax, legal, or compliance advice. Consult your tax advisor and applicable standards (FAR, GAAP, sector regulators) for asset-class determination specific to your organization.
Telecom Equipment We Recycle
We process equipment from customer sites, transport networks, and the network core. These are common items from Houston-area operators and contractors.
Network Core
- Cisco, Juniper, Arista, and Aruba switches.
- Routers, including CRS, ASR, MX, and Catalyst lines.
- Firewalls from ASA, Palo Alto, Fortinet, and Check Point.
- Line cards and route-engine modules.
- BTS, RRU, and DAS components.
Cabling & Transmission
- Cat 5e, Cat 6, and Cat 6a copper cable.
- Single-mode and multi-mode fiber.
- Patch panels and cross-connect frames.
- ONUs, MUX equipment, OLTs, and ONTs.
- Fiber distribution frames and splice trays.
Customer & Edge
- PBX and VoIP systems from Avaya, Mitel, and Cisco UC.
- SIP gateways and session border controllers.
- IP phones and conference endpoints.
- Structured cabling parts and racks.
- UPS units, PDUs, rack KVMs, and monitors.
Telecom-Specific Services
Network Equipment End-of-Life Processing
We process enterprise network equipment from Cisco, Juniper, Arista, and other brands. Materials go to certified downstream partners for recovery.
Secure Config Destruction
We erase routing tables, VPN settings, and customer data before disposition. Our secure data destruction process covers the data-bearing equipment in the project.
Data Center & CO Cleanouts
We remove equipment from central offices and data center sites. Service can include palletizing and freight.
Free planning tools
Use our free tools to plan refresh cycles and quantify the recycling value.
What a typical telecom engagement looks like
Most telecom pickups follow five steps. Here is how the process works. The sample load shows the size of a common mid-market project.
- 1
Reach out
Use the form below, call us at (832) 777-3002, or message us through the chat widget. We respond within one business day.
- 2
15-minute scoping call
We confirm what you have, where it is, and your timeline. No pressure: sometimes the call is just to map a future refresh.
- 3
Schedule pickup
On-site pickup, on your timeline. One-time or recurring cadence, we work around your operations schedule.
- 4
On-site retrieval
Equipment is inventoried at uplift, palletized, and freighted to our Houston facility. GPS-tracked logistics.
- 5
Documentation
You receive a chain-of-custody log, certificates of recycling and (where applicable) data destruction, and an environmental impact summary.
Telecom service tiers
Choose a service level based on your project size, schedule, and documentation needs.
Standard
One-time decommission pickup
- On-site pickup for qualified loads in our service area.
- Material recovery report.
- Chain-of-custody documentation.
- Standard five-business-day completion.
Compliance+
Audit-ready data destruction + ITAD
- Everything in Standard.
- NIST 800-88 sanitization with serialized certificates.
- Photo and video evidence of destruction events.
- Pre-scheduled destruction within 72 hours.
- Named project contact during the engagement.
Annual Partner
Recurring decommission cadence + multi-site
- Everything in Compliance+.
- Quarterly review with a material recovery summary.
- Multi-site coordination in the Houston service area.
- Priority scheduling for urgent decommissions.
- Dedicated account manager.
Telecom decommission FAQ
Are you R2-certified?
EverTrade is R2-aligned and processes material through R2-certified downstream partners. We do not currently hold direct R2 certification ourselves; recyclable streams that require R2 handling are routed through certified specialty processors.
How do you handle data-bearing assets?
Hard drives, SSDs, switches with onboard config, and other data-bearing media are sanitized per NIST 800-88 guidelines or physically destroyed by request. Each data-bearing asset is logged with serial number, sanitization method, and date.
What's included in pickup?
Pickup covers labor and transport within a 15-mile Houston radius for qualified loads. Pickup includes loading from your dock or designated staging area. Specialty handling (after-hours, weekend, or hazmat-adjacent material) is priced separately.
How fast can you schedule a pickup?
Standard pickup scheduling is 3-5 business days. Compliance+ engagements can be scheduled within 72 hours for time-sensitive decommissions. Annual Partner accounts get priority scheduling for emergencies.
Can you handle multi-site decommissions across Houston?
Yes. Multi-site rollups within the 15-mile Houston radius are common, especially for telecom carriers consolidating central offices or replacing edge equipment. Annual Partner engagements include coordination across all your Houston-area sites.
When do I get the certificate of destruction?
Certificates of destruction are issued within 5 business days of the destruction event. Each certificate includes serialized asset records, sanitization method, destruction date, and an authorized signature.
What kinds of telecom equipment do you process?
Network core (routers, switches, firewalls, line cards), wireless (eNodeB, microwave, antennas, fiber radios), structured cabling (Cat 5e/6/6a, fiber, copper feeder), legacy plant (PBX, POTS, cross-connect frames), and supporting infrastructure (UPS, power supplies, racks). See the equipment gallery section above for a more complete list.
Upgrade Your Network. We'll Handle the Old Gear.
Contact us to schedule a pickup for your network equipment recycling and disposal.