E-waste is increasing five times faster than documented e-waste recycling: Global E-waste Monitor
GENEVA, 23rd March, 2024 (WAM) — Global e-waste generation is increasing five times faster than documented e-waste recycling, the United Nations’ fourth Global E-Waste Monitor (GEM) has revealed.
The 62 million tons of e-waste generated in 2022 would fill 1.55 million 40-ton trucks, which is roughly enough trucks to form a bumper-to-bumper encircling the equator, according to the International Telecommunications Union report (ITU) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Meanwhile, it has been documented that in 2022, less than a quarter (22.3 percent) of the year’s e-waste mass was properly collected and recycled, leaving $62 billion worth of usable natural resources unaccounted for and increasing pollution risks to communities worldwide.
Globally, annual e-waste generation is increasing by 2.6 million tons annually and is expected to reach 82 million tons by 2030, a further 33 percent increase from 2022.
E-waste, i.e. any discarded product with a plug or battery, poses a health and environmental risk and contains toxic additives or dangerous substances such as mercury that can damage the human brain and coordination system.
The report predicts a decline in documented collection and recycling rates from 22.3 percent in 2022 to 20 percent in 2030 as disparities in recycling efforts widen compared to the rapid growth of e-waste generation worldwide.
Challenges contributing to the widening gap include technological advances, higher consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles, the increasing electronization of society, design deficiencies and inadequate e-waste management infrastructure.
The report emphasizes that if countries could increase e-waste collection and recycling rates to 60 percent by 2030, the benefits – including by minimizing risks to human health – would exceed the costs by more than $38 billion .
It also notes that the world remains “staggeringly dependent” on a few countries for rare earth elements, despite their unique properties, which are critical to future technologies, including renewable energy production and electric mobility.
“With the hopeful adoption of solar panels and electronic devices to combat the climate crisis and promote digital advancement, the rise in e-waste requires urgent attention,” said Nikhil Seth, executive director of UNITAR.
“From discarded televisions to discarded phones, a huge amount of e-waste is generated around the world. The latest research shows that the global e-waste challenge will only grow. With less than half of the world’s population implementing and enforcing approaches to address the problem, the need for robust regulations to encourage collection and recycling is alarming. “The Global E-waste Monitor is the world’s leading source of e-waste data, allowing us to track progress over time and make important decisions when it comes to the transition to a circular economy for electronics,” says Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, director, ITU Telecommunication Development Office, added.
According to Kees Baldé, lead author of UNITAR, “no more than 1 percent of the demand for vital rare earth elements is met by recycling e-waste.” Simply put, “business as usual” cannot continue. This new report represents an immediate call for greater investment in infrastructure development, increased promotion of repair and reuse, capacity building and action to stop illegal e-waste shipments. And the investment would be repaid amply.”
“Many in today’s society use multiple computers and phones, an ever-growing number of new devices, monitors and sensors, e-bikes, e-scooters, clothing, toys and furniture with integrated electronics, power tools and energy-saving devices such as LEDs, photovoltaics and heat pumps . Urban and remote areas are increasingly connected to the internet and a growing number of data centers are meeting the demands of digital transformation. Given all this, concrete steps are urgently needed to address and reduce e-waste. “Improved e-waste management could result in a global net benefit of $38 billion, representing a significant economic opportunity while addressing climate change and health impacts,” said Rüdiger Kuehr, Senior Manager, Sustainable Cycles (SCYCLE) Program, UNITAR / Associate Professor, University of Limerick (Ireland).
“The Global E-Waste Monitor shows that we are currently wasting $91 billion of valuable metals because we are not recycling e-waste adequately. We must reap the economic and environmental benefits of properly disposing of e-waste. “Otherwise, the digital ambitions of our future generations will face significant risks,” commented Vanessa Gray, Head of Environment & Emergency Telecommunications, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau.
Based on the numbers:
62 million tonnes: E-waste generated in 2022 is equivalent to the weight of 107,000 of the world’s largest (853 seats) and heaviest (575 tonnes) passenger aircraft – enough to form an unbroken queue from New York to Athens, from Nairobi to Hanoi or from Hong Kong to Anchorage
$91 billion: The value of metals contained in e-waste in 2022, including $19 billion of copper, $15 billion of gold, and $16 billion of iron.
$28 billion: Value of secondary raw materials (mainly iron) recovered through “urban mining” of e-waste in 2022
900 million tons: Primary ore mining is avoided by recovering materials through documented e-waste recycling
93 million tonnes: CO2 equivalent emissions avoided through formal e-waste management – refrigerants recovered (41 million tonnes), metal mining avoided (52 million tonnes)
