OUR COMPANY OUR GOVERNANCE OUR PEOPLE OUR COMMUNITIES THE ENVIRONMENT THE NUMBERS AND SMALL PRINT Waste and Recycling Taking on Waste in Every Form Waste comes in many forms—from everyday items like used paper cups and batteries, to a wide range of electronic and network infrastructure equipment. We know that our customers and employees care about the waste that is generated by the products and services they purchase and the companies they buy from. Across our business we look for effective ways to minimize the waste we produce and responsibly dispose of the waste we generate. Our approach includes assessing our operations to understand waste reduction opportunities, removing barriers to make it easier for employees to responsibly dispose of items, and prioritizing repair, reuse, and recycling whenever possible. We’ll be the first to admit that our waste reduction and recycling efforts are a work in progress and often depend on the infrastructure and commitment in our local municipalities, but we are applying the same relentless mindset to this challenge as to other pain points our industry might face. Inspiring Wise Decisions on Waste Each one of us makes daily decisions about the items we toss in the trash. Often, the decision to send something to landfill or recycle it comes down to access and information. To help address this, we offer as many opportunities as possible for our employees to have access to responsible disposal options and the information needed to make informed decisions. For example, every corporate retail store across the country has a collection center that provides employees with an easy way to appropriately dispose of everything from batteries and lamps to aerosol cans and small electronics. We also launched the Magenta Ambassador program in our Bellevue, WA; Overland Park, KS; Frisco, TX; and New York, NY offices, which provides an in-person point of contact who can be a champion for improving the employee experience at those locations. Part of the ambassadors’ role is raising awareness of the local programs and resources available, including waste disposal, recycling, and composting options. Waste systems and needs vary by location, and we want to empower our employees to make informed decisions no matter where they are working. Network E-Waste is a Valuable Resource Responsibly managing electronic waste, or e-waste, is one of the biggest opportunities in our industry and an area where we can have a massive impact on the environment. Every piece of equipment that keeps us connected—whether through our transformational 5G network or the latest wireless device—contains precious metals, glass, and other raw materials. Recognizing that resources are not limitless, our goal is to recover electronic equipment and products throughout our value chain and maximize their useful life by repairing and redeploying them. As we continue to strategically decommission redundant cell sites, we first assess network equipment to see what can be repaired and reused elsewhere across our business. This not only prolongs the life of the equipment, but it also saves costs and resources. Equipment that isn’t used by T-Mobile is either responsibly recycled through R2-certified and e-steward companies or resold to vendors with the intention of being reused. In 2021, we recycled 90% of the materials we didn’t reuse internally with the remaining 10% resold to vendors for reuse. The more resources that can be reclaimed from e-waste, the less that need to be extracted from the earth. Shaping the Circular Economy Together We recognize the importance of reducing the amount of e-waste associated with devices. It’s why the concept of the circular economy is so critical for our industry —it works to maximize the product lifecycle and minimize waste at the same time. By partnering with others through the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) and the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), we can shape circular economy strategies for the telecommunications industry and make meaningful recommendations to device manufacturers. We are also actively participating in the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) waste diversion sub-committee, which focuses on best practices for recycling and reusing devices across the retail sector. 2021 CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY REPORT 58