On the occasion of 20 years of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (Ratel) and the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day, Ratel is organizing the campaign – Exchanging e-waste for a seedling. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness about the impact of the digital sector and information and communication technology devices on the environment.

The campaign will last on May 30 and 31, as well as on June 1 and 2, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m, on the plateau in front of the Children's Cultural Center of Belgrade, at 10 Takovska street.

Citizens can bring: old computers, printers, laptops and tablets, monitors, routers, fax machines, mobile and landline phones, chargers, remote controls, radios, video cameras, video recorders, DVD players, electric toys, handheld video game consoles...

Ratel monitors the state of the electronic communications and postal services markets on a quarterly and annual basis. Based on data collected from public mobile communication network operators, in June 2024, more than 10 million mobile devices were in use. There are more than 40 manufacturers in Serbia with a large number of mobile phone and mobile device models, of which 83.8% of the market is occupied by 11 manufacturers. Almost 95% of the devices in use in Serbia belong to the "smart devices" class.

The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) has offered useful advice to help consumers use electronic devices and technologies responsibly and rationally, with a recommendation to opt for more durable solutions and thus help reduce our harmful impact on the environment. BEREC and Ratel recommend that devices be used for as long as possible, have them repaired or additionally upgraded instead of buying new ones. Old and discarded electronic devices should be recycled, which is made possible by collecting them in special containers from where they are sent for recycling so that their parts and materials can be used to produce new devices instead of ending up as waste.

It is our duty to support socially responsible actions and promote environmental protection by encouraging the development of the digital world to which we are committed. Therefore, Ratel will give a black pine seedling to anyone who brings electronic waste for recycling, with the obligation to plant it.

Ratel's partners in implementing the campaign are the Children's Cultural Center and PE "Srbijašume".