The UN warns that e-waste is created much faster than we can recycle it
The UN International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) have issued a stark warning about the rapid growth of electronic waste, which is outpacing how quickly we can recycle and safely dispose of unwanted products.
According to the 2024 Global electronic waste monitor (GEM) reports that the world generates approximately 2.6 million tons of electronic waste annually, a figure expected to rise to as much as 82 million tons by 2030.
More alarmingly, documented recycling efforts represent only a fraction of the total waste generated, with an estimated five times more waste generated than recycled through officially recognized procedures.
Our e-waste generation is about to explode
Processing and recycling electronic waste is a more complex problem than it seems at first glance. While there are environmental benefits, such as reducing greenhouse gases and recovering valuable materials such as gold, copper and iron, the extraction processes can be extremely expensive.
The UN report estimates the net annual economic cost of e-waste at $37 billion, with costs expected to rise to $40 billion by the end of the decade if the industry fails to make substantial improvements in management and the policy.
There is also a geographical disparity when it comes to e-waste, says the UN. According to the figures, Europe leads the way with a recycling rate of 42.8% – a similarly positive amount, but one that still leaves plenty of room for improvement. However, Africa lags far behind with a recycling rate of just 0.7%.
With such a long way to go, the report calls for urgent action to improve current recycling processes and systems worldwide to tackle rising levels of e-waste, in the hope that the industry can make some substantial sustainability gains books.