Growing Problem of Electronic Waste: A Global Concern

According to a report by The Independent on October 12, research reveals that there is a yearly production of $10 billion worth of "invisible" electronic waste globally, which includes e-cigarettes, drones, and electric tools, among others. These waste products contain valuable raw materials such as iron, copper, and gold worth billions of dollars.

Despite Europe's electronic waste recycling rate reaching 55%, the global rate stands at just above 17%. As technology products become increasingly affordable, electronic waste is becoming the fastest-growing stream of garbage. According to UN monitoring, this means that millions of tons of electronic waste are either sent to landfills, involved in illegal trade, or accumulating in homes every year.

The International E-Waste Day is approaching on October 14th, according to Pascal Leroy, the Secretary General of the non-profit organization WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recycling Organization).

Many people do not consider battery-powered or wired products like smoke detectors or smart thermostats to be electronic devices because they lack a plug.

Researchers have calculated the quantity and expected lifespan of products being released into the market using algorithms, leading to a startling revelation about electronic waste. It has been found that nearly 500,000 "invisible" tons of electronic waste, equivalent to the weight of 40 trucks, are generated each year, spanning a distance from Nairobi to Rome.

The weight of the e-cigarette alone is equivalent to that of three Brooklyn Bridges. Additionally, the pile includes 7.3 billion electronic toys such as racing sets, electric trains, musical toys, talking dolls, and drones, which averages to one per person on Earth.

Although the market for extracting lithium from e-cigarettes is still in its early stages, discarded cables provide a simple source of copper. Researchers predict that by 2030, the demand for copper in Europe will increase sixfold to meet the needs of renewable energy, electric vehicles, industry, communication, aerospace, and defense.

"Significant efforts have already been made in tackling plastic pollution and progress has been achieved, garnering increased attention from the public, especially with the upcoming United Nations Plastic Treaty set to be launched by 2024. We hope to see a similar scenario unfold in the realm of electronic waste," Pascal stated.