How Much E-Waste is Produced Each Year?
The rapid expansion of convenient, leading-edge technology paired with the drive toward consumption-based models to accommodate demand results in the generation of a very large amount of e-waste.
Globally, an estimated 53.6 million metric tons of e-waste was generated in 2019, of which only 17.4% was collected and recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, where decomposing can take centuries. Previously, personal computers and televisions were the primary contributors to e-waste, but mobile phones and other handheld devices have become the dominant sources in recent years. The quantity of e-waste generated annually is projected to soar to 74.7 million metric tons by 2030. The Asia-Pacific region accounts for the largest share of e-waste generated, followed by the Americas and Europe, respectively.
Designing for Disposal
Many electronic devices are not designed for easy disassembly and recycling, making it challenging to recover valuable materials and properly dispose of hazardous materials. In a study conducted by the Basel Convention, 75% of respondents identified design for disassembly and recyclability as the most critical factor in addressing the e-waste crisis.
Absence of Incentives
Outside of creating a more sustainable world for future generations, there is seldom a financial or regulatory incentive for technology companies to design products with end-of-life considerations. A European Environmental Bureau (EEB) study notes that some companies use design tactics such as non-changeable batteries to discourage repair and promote replacement rather than repair.
Consumer Participation
While two-thirds of consumers seek out eco-friendly brands, the majority are unaware of the importance of proper e-waste disposal and do not prioritize it when disposing of their own electronic devices. In a survey by the Consumer Technology Association, 40% of respondents admitted to throwing away electronic devices instead of recycling them, compared with only 18% who "always recycle."
Lack of Regulation
In some regions, there is a lack of regulatory frameworks and enforcement of e-waste management, making it more difficult for technology companies to implement effective recycling practices. However, many organizations are working to reduce and manage e-waste by implementing sustainable practices for product design, repair services and IT asset disposition.
Environmental Protection
E-waste contains hazardous materials that leach into soil and water if not properly disposed of. Recycling e-waste reduces the amount of these hazardous materials that end up in landfills and reduces the risk of environmental contamination.
| Case in Point: Google committed to using recycled materials in all its hardware products by 2022. It also offers a trade-in program and works with e-waste recyclers to ensure responsible disposal. In 2020, Google reported recycling over 2.5 million pounds of electronic waste through its trade-in program. |
Resource Conservation
Electronic devices also contain valuable materials that can be recovered and reused in new devices. Proper e-waste recycling allows for the recovery of these materials, decreasing the need for new raw materials to be mined and reducing the strain on natural resources.
| Case in Point: Samsung has implemented sustainable, eco-conscious packaging, which uses materials manufactured using environmentally friendly processes in its product packaging. Additionally, the company reported that it had recycled over 236,000 tons of electronic waste in 2020 alone. |
Job Creation
The e-waste recycling industry creates new jobs in collection, transportation and recycling, which provides economic benefits to communities and helps to stimulate local economies.
| Case in Point: Dell has a closed-loop recycling process and a trade-in program to ensure responsible disposal. In 2020, Dell reported that it had recycled over 2 billion pounds of electronic waste since the inception of its recycling program in 2007, creating over 1,500 jobs worldwide in the process. |
Energy Savings
Recycling e-waste requires less energy than mining new raw materials and manufacturing new electronic devices. This can lead to significant energy savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
| Case in Point: HP has a free recycling program called HP Planet Partners, operating in over 70 countries. It uses recycled ocean-bound plastic in its ink cartridges and designs products for disassembly to make recycling easier. |
Data Security
Proper e-waste recycling ensures sensitive data stored on electronic devices is securely erased, reducing the risk of data breaches and identity theft.
| Case in Point: Apple's e-waste recycling program includes a data security process that involves the secure erasure of all device data using specialized software. In cases where the device cannot be wiped, physical destruction techniques ensure sensitive information is not retrievable. Apple also offers a trade-in program for customers to return their old devices for proper recycling, which has diverted over 861,000 metric tons of e-waste since 2015. |
A Serious Responsibility
Technology companies should own their responsibility for the e-waste crisis by promoting safe disposal methods among their users, implementing sustainable product design practices and supporting best practices for repair, recycling and disposal services.
Accepting responsibility is the first step. Take action today to begin implementing ways to support actionable sustainability and promote a greener and more responsible way of living that benefits everyone.
