What does the UN report say?
Record 62 million tons of e-waste produced in 2022, according to a United Nations report. This number is up 82% from 2010, and a further 32% increase is expected in 2030.
Globally, the annual generation of e-waste is increasing by 2.6 million tonnes per year, with the prospect of reaching 82 million tonnes by 2030. Of the 62 million tonnes produced in 2022, 33% (20.4 million tonnes) were small devices of which only 12% was recycled. About 4.6 million tonnes came from small IT and telecommunications equipment with a documented collection and recycling rate of just 22%.
Overall, the world’s e-waste production is growing five times faster than its recycling, the UN’s fourth Global E-Waste Monitor reveals. Notably, less than a quarter of the year’s 62 million tons of e-waste was recorded as being properly recycled, leaving US$62 billion worth of natural resources untapped and increasing pollution risks for communities worldwide. This figure is 42.8% in Europe, but less than 1% in African countries.
E-waste, i.e. any discarded product with a cable or battery, is a risk to health and the environment, as it contains toxic additives or hazardous substances, such as mercury, which can damage the human brain.
The report predicts a drop in the documented collection and recycling rate from 22.3% in 2022 to 20% by 2030, due to a widening gap in recycling efforts in relation to the huge increase in e-waste generation worldwide.
