The global accumulation of electronic waste, or e-waste, is surging at an alarming rate, outpacing efforts in recycling, according to a recent report by the United Nations' fourth Global E-waste Monitor (GEM).
62 Million Tonnes of E-Waste
In 2022 alone, the world produced a staggering 62 million tonnes of e-waste, a quantity that could fill approximately 1.55 million 40-tonne trucks, forming a line that could encircle the equator.
However, merely a fraction, less than one quarter (22.3%), of this vast amount was properly collected and recycled, leaving behind US$ 62 billion worth of recoverable natural resources unaccounted for, and posing increasing pollution risks globally.
The rate of e-waste generation is escalating rapidly, with an annual increase of 2.6 million tonnes. If this trend persists, e-waste generation is projected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030, representing a further 33% rise from the 2022 figure, according to the report from ITU and UNITAR.
E-waste, characterized by any discarded product with a plug or battery, poses significant health and environmental hazards due to its content of toxic additives or hazardous substances like mercury, which can inflict harm on human health and the environment.
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Challenges in E-Waste Recyling
The report anticipates a decline in the documented collection and recycling rate, from 22.3% in 2022 to a mere 20% by 2030, primarily attributed to the widening disparity between recycling efforts and the exponential growth in e-waste production worldwide.
The report highlights numerous challenges exacerbate this gap, including technological advancements, heightened consumption patterns, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles, the increasing electronification of society, design flaws, and inadequate e-waste management infrastructure.
The ITU and UNITAR underscores the potential benefits of enhancing e-waste collection and recycling rates, suggesting that if countries could achieve a 60% collection and recycling rate by 2030, the benefits would outweigh the costs by more than US $38 billion, while also mitigating human health risks.
Furthermore, it highlights the critical global dependence on a handful of countries for rare earth elements, vital for future technologies such as renewable energy generation and e-mobility.
Nikhil Seth, Executive Director of UNITAR, emphasized the urgency of addressing the escalating e-waste crisis amidst efforts to combat climate change and drive digital advancements.
Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, echoed the concern, emphasizing the urgent need for sound regulations to enhance e-waste collection and recycling efforts, stressing the significance of the Global E-waste Monitor as a pivotal source for e-waste data to inform decision-making.
"From discarded televisions to dumped telephones, an enormous amount of e-waste is generated around the world. The latest research shows that the global challenge posed by e-waste is only going to grow. With less than half of the world implementing and enforcing approaches to manage the problem, this raises the alarm for sound regulations to increase collection and recycling," Zavazava said in a press release statement.
"The Global E-waste Monitor is the world's foremost source for e-waste data allowing us to track progress overtime and to make critical decisions when it comes to transitioning to a circular economy for electronics."
