What is the scope of electronic waste?
- Every day, thousands of tons of electronic waste — much of it still in working condition — is disposed of globally, leading to a raft of adverse environmental outcomes.
- Tech companies produce a staggering amount of goods: in 2021, 1.43 billion smartphones, 548 million pairs of headphones, 341 million computers, and 210 million TVs were sold globally. When these items reach the end of their life cycle, they typically end up in a landfill or incinerator.
- Only 17.4% of electronic waste is properly recycled. Between 7-20% of the waste is exported to developing countries.
- In 2019, there were 53.6 million tons of electronic waste produced globally. The figure is growing by 2% each year. It is estimated that e-waste generation will increase to 74.7 million tons by 2030 at current consumption levels.
The environmental and human impact
- Manufacturers and retailers frequently destroy "deadstock," unused but perfectly functional equipment, so older models can't compete with new phones, computers, and consoles. In 2021, it was discovered that Amazon was destroying millions of brand-new, functional items a year.
- Manufacturers are also suspected of designing items with "planned obsolescence" in mind so that older models need to be upgraded more frequently.
- The 2002 documentary Exporting Harm detailed the environmental impact of e-waste on rural China. Many of the children in the village featured in the film had lead poisoning from the heavy metals in the e-waste.
- Individuals who work or live near e-waste dumps are exposed to toxic lead, mercury, nickel, and brominated flame retardants.
- Before being torn down, Agbogbloshie, a slum in Accra, Ghana, was considered the world's largest e-waste dump, and eggs produced nearby were found to have 220 times the safe daily intake of dioxins.
- Approximately 12.9 million women and up to 18 million children work in the informal waste sector.
- World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said:
"In the same way the world has rallied to protect the seas and their ecosystems from plastic and microplastic pollution, we need to rally to protect our most valuable resource – the health of our children – from the growing threat of e-waste."
What can be done?
- Many organizations promote an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme whereby producers take accountability for their products throughout their lifecycle or contribute a percentage of sales to a central recycling fund. This method is based on the "polluter-pays principle."
- EPR can be a strong policy instrument, reflected in the growing recycling rate in EU member countries from 47% to 65% from 1998 to 2012.
- Many countries in Latin America, such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico, have introduced legislative frameworks to implement EPR.
Are you concerned about e-waste?
—Emma Kansiz
(Photo Credit: Canva)
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Electronic recycling rates are low with a global average slightly above 15%, the US and Europe higher at 30% and the rest of world below that at 10% and below. Small (32%) and large (24%) equipment is more likely to be recycled than screens and monitors (13%) or lamps (2%).
Recycling in general is a patchwork of federal, state and local regulations carried out by private and public resources that some states do better than others. The top 10 recycling states (ME, VT, CT, OR, OR, CA, MA, IA, DE, NJ, NY) and versus the bottom 10 (TX, OK, AR, NM, LA, KY, OH, AL, TN, MS, AK).
My state recycles ~30%, my county ~60% and my building about 80% as we have a very active Green Committe providing feedback from the recycling center on how well we are doing, and suggestions on how to improve plus special drives to recycle batteries, medicines, etc separately from daily waste disposal.
Oberk has a nice dashboard by state and type of recycling.
https://www.oberk.com/packaging-crash-course/states-best-worst-recycling
https://www.statista.com/topics/3409/electronic-waste-worldwide/#topicOverview
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/electronic-waste-recycling-rate?time=earliest..2018
All this stuff may have some value in the future. Put it in the landfill. Then, when it becomes economically advantageous, someone will mine the landfill. Please, those that are worried about waste disposal and pollution, STOP buying bottled water!!!!! You can't be a bottled water user and have any credibility as an advocate for the environment.
Many cities and states have excellent recycling centers for electronic devices
Yes, I'm concerned. We can't fill landfills with these large objects containing dangerous metals and other chemicals, and there's no easy way to get rid of them.
I registered for my local e-waste collection in mid-August, because I have things to dispose of safely, but of course I have to pay them to take each item which is a small pain.
My garbage collector will also take most of these items one-at-a-time from the curb if I call in advance, but I never think to do so.
I wish local/state/federal governments would find ways to make this easier and more cost-effective.
I get a charge out of this issue.
I am sorry but the best way to deal with electronic waste is to have easy collection points that have a low fee or are free.
I am a hunter and see the dumping of electronic waste in the country side!
I also understand that people dispose of electronic items in their normal garbage collection, which shows up in our landfills !
Landfills and road sides are not the place for this, the recycling of the components does not happen and we pollute the environment!
Refurbush, recycle, resell!
There must be more recycling of electronics and plastic cases. At least. How about into solar? Isn't like worth more than quick bucks???
Manufacturers should figure in the cost of recycling their used products. "The Time Has Come Today" Chambers Brothers, 1968.
Electronics is one of the most wasteful aspects of our society.
It's past time for us "brilliant" humanbeings to start treating the earth with the respect the fragile environment deserves. All business models need to take into account sustainability as part of their processes, and we consumers need to focus on only consuming what we need, reusing what we can and recycling when possible after that.
How about the House of Representative waste some of its time working on the solutions to some of our problems, i.e. waste disposal. Our government isn't working because a certain party doesn't want it to work. They lie, cheat, bribe, etc. to gain power and then use it to force their "beliefs" on the rest of us.
I am concerned about all waste, to be honest. We only have one planet and we all have to live here...so it's high time we start taking care of it.
I am surprised no Reuse programs were
mentioned.
Two categories come to mind.
1. Resale. Companies buy used devices, refresh them and sell them. I've done this with Apple, Back Market, and a company on eBay.
2. Donate. When large companies do massive upgrades some work with charitable groups that reconfigure the machines and distribute them to kids & families. Companies get tax writeoff which can be substantial. Plus they create goodwill.
I am concerned about all waste. Electronic companies purposely make items either impossible or more expensive to repair than to replace in order to maximize their profits. They need to be stopped or taxed at such a rate they change.
Consumers are largely powerless to solve problems around waste. There is only so much a single individual can do to reduce, reuse, or recycle. The largest impact can only be made by large companies and/or governmental agencies to drive change. People are craving change. We just need leaders who will lead and not just sit around on their fat butts and worry about someone's emails or laptop.
Ever since it has been revealed that e-waste sent to China for recycling was being done in a dangerous haphazard manner I have been concerned about the recycling of E-waste.
I don't think our nation has a good plan for recycling period.
Not only is this a long term environmental hazard it also contributes to the precious metal scarcity!! All of these items must be recycled!!
We need to either generate markets for recycled e-waste or create government-subsidized jobs to recycle it until the existing markets find it valuable.
I strip down my desktop computers and rebuild them.
So much for recycling electronics equipment or other forms sold to the public. Pollution is not a growing threat, it's a major threat. Your air, water and way of life are all effected. Climate change is here and hopefully not to stay until everyone is dead? We can pollute our self out of existence?