The amount of electronic garbage, or “e-waste,” is growing globally, and UN agencies have warned of the impending drop in recycling rates. Recycling rates are now meager.
The term e-waste encompasses discarded electronic devices that rely on plugs or batteries, such as cellphones, TVs, laptops, e-cigarettes, and solar panels, but excludes waste from electronic vehicles.
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) published a report in 2022 that estimated the amount of e-waste generated in 2022 to be around 62 million tons, or enough to fill tractor-trailers parked bumper to bumper all over the world. By 2030, this amount is predicted to skyrocket to 82 million tons.
The report highlighted that metals, including copper, gold, and iron, constituted half of the 62 million tons, estimated at $91 billion. Plastics comprised 17 million tons, while the remaining 14 million tons included materials like composite substances and glass.
Despite the substantial value embedded in e-waste, only 22% was collected correctly and recycled in 2022. This rate is anticipated to drop to 20% by the decade’s end due to escalating e-waste volumes driven by increased consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles, and insufficient e-waste management infrastructure.
Hazardous elements like mercury and rare earth metals, critical to tech manufacturers, are present in many discarded devices, yet only 1% of the demand for the 17 rare metals is currently met through recycling.
Asia generates nearly half of the global e-waste, so it needs comprehensive e-waste laws or collection targets, which would result in minimal recycling efforts.
In contrast, Europe boasts recycling and collection rates exceeding 40% despite its high per-capita waste generation of nearly 18 kilograms (39 pounds). Africa, producing the least e-waste among major global regions, has recycling rates of around 1%.
“The global challenge posed by e-waste is only going to grow,” said Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, head of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau.
He emphasised the need for robust regulations to enhance e-waste collection and recycling, as less than half the world’s countries currently implement effective management approaches.
E-waste offers an income source for some individuals in developing countries, who sift through dumps to extract valuable materials, often at significant personal health risks.
At Nairobi’s Dandora dumpsite, scavengers like Steve Okoth endure hazardous conditions to find and sell e-waste components. “When the e-waste comes here, it contains some powder which affects my health,” Okoth said, noting the respiratory issues caused by toxic gases released from heating devices. Despite the dangers, the lack of alternatives forces many to continue this hazardous work.
Recycling facilities, such as Nairobi’s WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Center, provide safer disposal options for old electronics. Catherine Wasolia, WEEE’s Chief Operating Officer, explained their process of inventorying, data wiping, and testing devices for potential reuse or repurposing.
E-waste expert George Masila expressed concerns about the environmental impact of improperly disposed e-waste, highlighting contamination risks to soil and water. “Every year it rains, and water flows and attracts all these elements that are deposited into the environment,” Masila said, stressing the importance of increased recycling and reuse efforts.
The report’s authors called for better training and equipment for informal e-waste harvesting workers to ensure safer practices. Ruediger Kuehr, Senior Manager of UNITAR’s Sustainable Cycles Program, advocated for supporting these individuals in finding safer and more sustainable ways to manage e-waste.
The findings underscore the urgent need for global cooperation and robust regulatory frameworks to address the growing e-waste crisis and protect human health and the environment.
By Faridat Salifu
