Ubiquitous Used Mobile Phone Waste Poses Danger, XLSmart Launches Solution
Bandung, CNBC Indonesia - The public’s habit of frequently upgrading smartphones is driving the growth of the second-hand mobile phone market. On the other hand, this rapid device replacement cycle is creating another issue: electronic waste, or e-waste.
This situation has become a major concern for the telecommunications industry. Merza Fachys, Director & Chief Regulatory Officer of XLSmart, stated that smartphones are now one of the largest contributors to Indonesia’s secondary market.
“If you enter mobile phone malls, there are more sellers of used phones than new ones. There are phones that are partially broken, not to mention other electronic accessories like chargers, cables, and keyboards; these cannot be disposed of arbitrarily,” said Merza during the launch of the ‘Bye Bye Box’ sustainability programme at the East Hall of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) campus, Bandung, on Monday (14/09/2026).
He noted that this phenomenon has led the telecommunications industry to ask, “Does all of this really have to be thrown away?”, considering that electronic goods contain many valuable components.
On the same occasion, the CEO and Founder of Remind, M. Dzikri Ahira, explained that smartphones contain various valuable components, ranging from batteries and circuit boards to internal electronic instruments.
These components contain several metals which, if not managed properly, can pose a danger to the environment.
“To take the most common example, a mobile phone—from its battery and circuit boards to the instruments within—contains metals that will be hazardous to the environment if not managed correctly,” he said.
To address this, XLSmart, together with Remind, has introduced the ‘ByeByeBox Campus Roadshow to ITB’ as part of the company’s commitment to building a responsible digital infrastructure in Indonesia.
Through this programme, XLSmart is encouraging more responsible e-waste management while strengthening the implementation of XLSmart’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and Sustainability goals.
ByeByeBox is Indonesia’s first E-Waste Reverse Vending Machine, developed to make it easier for the public to surrender unused electronic devices to a more responsible management stream.
In the collaboration between XLSmart and Remind, ByeByeBox serves not only as an e-waste collection point but also as an educational medium to encourage more circular electronic device management habits.
The programme runs from 14–28 September 2026, beginning with its launch at the ITB East Hall on 14 September 2026, followed by ByeByeBox activations across the campus area until 28 September 2026.
This step is part of XLSmart’s efforts to build a more responsible digital ecosystem while supporting sustainability principles in Indonesia.