From “Samsari” to Smartphones: How Culture Is Shaping Iran’s E-Waste Future?

In a narrow street in Tehran, a small second-hand shop is filled with used appliances, old furniture, and dusty household items stacked on top of each other. The shopkeeper buys what others no longer need—and gives these objects a second life.

These shops, known as “Samsari,” have long been part of everyday life in Iran. For decades, they have quietly supported a culture of reuse, passing goods from one household to another and delaying their journey to the waste stream. In a country where formal recycling systems have historically been limited, such informal practices have played an important role in extending the life cycle of everyday objects.

But as smartphones, laptops, and other electronic devices become more common, this long-standing system is facing new challenges.

“I still keep my old phones at home,” says a 29-year-old resident of Tabriz who responded to questions shared on social media. “I don’t know where to take them, and I don’t want to throw them away.”

His response reflects a broader pattern. Interviews conducted through social media with individuals from different parts of Iran suggest that many people avoid discarding electronic devices altogether.

“If the phone still works, I usually give it to someone who needs it,” says another respondent. “There is always someone in the family or among friends who can use it.”

Others describe a more market-based approach. “I sell my old devices,” explains a participant from Mashhad. “There are small electronics shops that buy them—not to resell as they are, but to use their parts.”

Together, these responses point to an informal and decentralized system of reuse and redistribution. Rather than entering a structured recycling chain, electronic devices often remain in circulation through personal networks or small-scale markets. In some cases, they are stored in homes for years, creating what might be described as a “hidden reserve” of electronic waste.

Unlike household goods, however, there is no widely recognized equivalent of “Samsari” shops dedicated specifically to electronic devices. At the same time, Iran lacks a comprehensive infrastructure for recycling electronic waste. This gap raises an important question: what happens when these devices eventually reach the end of their usable life?

Globally, electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams, driven by rapid technological change and increasing consumption. While countries with advanced recycling systems have begun to address the issue, many others face significant challenges in managing the environmental and health risks associated with discarded electronics.

In Iran, cultural practices and economic conditions have so far delayed the visible accumulation of electronic waste. The long-standing culture of reuse, combined with practices of sharing and supporting lower-income households, has kept many devices in circulation longer than in more consumption-driven contexts.

However, these dynamics are beginning to shift.

The expansion of digital technologies, combined with global advertising and brand competition, is reshaping consumer expectations—particularly among younger generations. The desire to upgrade devices more frequently is becoming more common, even in a context where reuse remains a strong cultural norm.

This creates a growing tension between tradition and transformation: between a culture that encourages extending the life of objects and a market that promotes constant replacement.

A similar tension can be observed in relation to natural resources and environmental awareness in other sectors.

In regions rich in natural resources, such as mining areas, local perspectives often prioritize economic benefits over environmental concerns. Conversations with individuals familiar with these regions suggest that employment opportunities and regional development tend to dominate public discourse.

“People expect the mines to improve their lives,” says one respondent with knowledge of mining regions in western Iran. “Environmental impacts are rarely the main issue in public discussions.”

Media coverage plays a crucial role in shaping these perceptions. However, structural and institutional constraints influence how environmental issues are reported. In many cases, media narratives emphasize economic development and national priorities, while environmental consequences receive less attention.

This dynamic affects not only how environmental problems are understood but also how the public prioritizes them. In this context, environmental communication and media literacy can play a key role. Raising awareness about the environmental impact of both consumption and resource extraction may gradually shift public expectations—encouraging greater attention to sustainability and long-term ecological risks.

At the same time, the Iranian case highlights a broader question relevant to many countries: can cultural practices alone mitigate the environmental consequences of modern consumption?

For now, traditions such as reuse, repair, and redistribution continue to slow the accumulation of waste. But as consumption patterns change and technological turnover accelerates, these practices may no longer be sufficient.

Without more structured systems for managing electronic waste—and without broader public awareness of its environmental impact—the consequences may become increasingly visible in the years ahead.

By Yasamin Molana

Environmental Communication researcher and journalist

*This article is based on interviews conducted via social media with individuals from different regions in Iran.