UN agencies have raised concerns over the escalating accumulation of electronic waste (e-waste) globally, warning of insufficient recycling rates and looming environmental and health risks.
In a report unveiled Wednesday, the UN’s International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and its research arm UNITAR disclosed alarming statistics regarding e-waste generation and recycling. The report revealed that a staggering 62 million tons of e-waste were generated in 2022 alone, a volume substantial enough to fill tractor-trailers lined bumper to bumper around the planet. By 2030, this figure is projected to soar to 82 million tons.
‘The latest research shows that the global challenge posed by e-waste is only going to grow,’ emphasised Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, head of the ITU telecommunication development bureau. “With less than half of the world implementing and enforcing approaches to manage the problem, this raises the alarm for sound regulations to boost collection and recycling.”
Metals such as copper, gold, and iron comprised half of the 62 million tons of e-waste, valued at approximately $91bn. Plastics accounted for 17 million tons, with the remaining 14 million tons containing composite materials and glass.
Despite these significant figures, only 22 percent of e-waste was properly collected and recycled in 2022. This rate is anticipated to decline to 20 percent by the decade’s end due to various factors, including heightened consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles, and the growing electronification of society. The lack of adequate e-waste management infrastructure exacerbates these challenges.
‘The staggering growth of e-waste is driven by higher consumption, limited repair options, and inadequate infrastructure,’ remarked an official from UNITAR. ‘This trend poses serious threats to the environment and human health.’
Moreover, the report underscored the presence of hazardous elements like mercury and rare Earth metals in discarded electronic devices. Currently, only 1 percent of the demand for these rare metals is met through recycling, posing further environmental concerns.
‘While e-waste presents economic opportunities for some, it also poses significant health risks,’ noted Ruediger Kuehr, senior manager of UNITAR’s sustainable cycles programme. ‘We must try to support these people trying to find their niche.’
Efforts are underway to address these challenges, with initiatives such as Nairobi’s WEEE centre providing safe collection points for old electronic equipment. However, experts like George Masila caution against the environmental impact of unmanaged e-waste, advocating for increased recycling and reuse practices.
‘When you have all this e-waste… it could have major effects on the soil,’ warned Masila. ‘Every year it rains and water flows and attracts all these elements that are deposited into the environment. You have water getting contaminated.’
Acknowledging the role of e-waste harvesting in livelihoods, experts call for support and training to ensure safer practices. ‘We must try to support these people trying to find their niche,’ said Kuehr.