E-Waste Experts Urge Public: Stop Trashing Electronic Products with Ordinary Garbage

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E-Waste Experts Urge Public: Stop Trashing Electronic Products with Ordinary Garbage

Electronic waste (e-waste) has become one of the fastest-growing waste categories globally, with an estimated 14 billion kg discarded in household trash every year. This staggering amount of e-waste, which weighs as much as approximately 24,000 of the world’s heaviest passenger planes, is not only harmful to the environment but also represents a major missed opportunity to recycle valuable materials. The e-waste sector is calling on consumers worldwide to stop tossing their old electronics in the trash and to adopt better recycling practices.

The Hidden Cost of E-Waste

The Global E-Waste Monitor 2024, compiled by UNITAR and ITU, highlights that almost a quarter of e-waste ends up in regular household bins. This careless disposal is costing the world billions of dollars in precious materials like gold, copper, and platinum, which are critical for manufacturing electronics. Not only is this a massive waste of resources, but e-waste that is not recycled also contributes to harmful environmental pollution, including the leakage of toxic substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium.

The problem is enormous—14 million tonnes of e-waste are thrown away with regular garbage each year. To put that into perspective, the weight of this waste is equivalent to about 24,000 jumbo jets—enough to form a continuous line stretching from London to Helsinki or NYC to Miami.

Hoarding and Mismanagement of E-Waste

Despite the clear environmental risks, many people store unused or broken electronics at home. According to surveys in the EU, households hoard an average of 74 electronic products, with many of them broken or unused. The reasons vary, from sentimental attachment to a reluctance to dispose of items properly. In fact, one of the top reasons for hoarding is the belief that “it might be useful again in the future”.

However, much of this e-waste is repairable or can be refurbished for reuse. A significant portion is also recyclable, with valuable materials that can be extracted and reused, thus reducing the need to mine for raw materials.

The Solution: E-Waste Recycling

The solution lies in proper e-waste disposal and recycling. When electronic products with a plug or battery are discarded properly, they can be cleaned, refurbished, or recycled. For instance, recycling e-waste can significantly reduce CO2 emissions—by an estimated 93 million tonnes annually, which is equivalent to the emissions of 20 million cars.

One example of this impact is the 844 million e-cigarettes disposed of in 2022. These products alone contained enough lithium to power 15,000 electric cars, showing the vast untapped potential in the e-waste pile.

What Can You Do?

1. Retrieve: Gather all your old, unused, or broken electronics, whether it’s your old phone, laptop, charger, or remote control.
2. Recycle: Take them to any official e-waste collection point or find local recycling programs in your area. WEEE Forum members provide over 183,000 collection points worldwide, where you can drop off your unwanted electronics.
3. Revive: Many of these products can be repaired or refurbished for reuse, extending their life and reducing the environmental burden.

The Five Ws of E-Waste Recycling

1. What: Any product with a battery or plug.
2. Where: Find a collection point at WEEE Forum members or other official e-waste collection centers.
3. Why: Proper e-waste recycling helps reduce toxic leakage into the environment and recovers precious materials like cobalt, antimony, and aluminum.
4. Who: You can make a difference by recycling your e-waste responsibly.
5. When: The time to act is now—help reduce e-waste and environmental damage.

A Call to Action

As the global generation of e-waste continues to rise, it’s crucial for consumers, businesses, and governments to act quickly. For instance, by ensuring that old mobile phones, chargers, and other electronics are recycled, we can significantly reduce their environmental impact. As Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau puts it, “proper recycling of electronic devices is key to reducing their environmental impact and minimizing resource scarcity.”

This year, in celebration of International E-Waste Day, the WEEE Forum encourages everyone to participate in the E-Waste Hunt: Retrieve, Recycle, and Revive! Let’s reduce waste, protect the planet, and keep valuable resources in circulation.