Electronics have a big eco footprint, meaning their manufacture consumes a lot of energy and water, along with valuable and sometimes scarce resources, making recycling and recovery a key way to reduce impact on the planet. Distribution of e-waste generation In absolute terms, Asia produces the most electronic waste followed by Europe and North America. Less than 20% of e-waste is formally recycled, with 80% either ending up in landfill or being informally recycled much of it by hand in developing countries, exposing workers to hazardous and carcinogenic substances such as mercury, lead and cadmium. The amount of MSW combusted with energy recovery increased from zero in 1960 to 14 percent in 1990. But among the human population, the benefits as well as the dangers of the electronics boom are being distributed very unevenly.

48 pounds of books. Advertisement There is over 347 Mt of unrecycled e-waste on earth in 2023. In new research, we found that Europe has the highest collection and recycling rate, covering about 42.5% of the total e-waste generated in 2019. How much garbage is generated in a week. Please click here to see any active alerts. This consists mostly of smaller electrical and It items (tablets, mobile phones etc). The 1,200-year-old vessel, discovered in a Norwegian potato field, is revealing an extraordinary picture of how ancient Scandinavian warlords were sent into the afterlife.

Each year, the average office worker uses 500 coffee cups, all of which are sent to landfills. Imagine a 176-pound (80 kilogram) pile of discarded products with a battery or plug in your living room. There is 100 times more gold in a tonne of e-waste than in a tonne of gold ore. UN agencies have come together with the World Economic Forum, the Global Environment Facility and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development to call for an overhaul of the current electronics system. Over the last few decades, the generation and management of MSW has changed substantially. The decline in yard trimmings generation since 1990 is largely due to state legislation discouraging yard trimmings disposal in landfills, including source reduction measures such as backyard composting and leaving grass trimmings on the yard. Plastics generation has grown from 8.2 percent of generation in 1990 to 12.2 percent in 2018. E-waste does not biodegrade, and therefore will accumulate wherever it is dumped, in much the same way that plastic waste does. In places without a formal e-waste recycling system, informaland dangerousrecycling systems have emerged. Countries are literally throwing away money every day. Although this is down from 6.3 percent in 2017, the tons composted remained the same between 2017 and 2018 (2.6 million tons). About 98 million tonnes are thought to leak from scrapyards each year, equivalent to 0.3% of global emissions from the energy sector. African residents produce the least amount of e-waste per capita. There are huge opportunities here for smart entrepreneurs, said Gray. Due to a change in methodology, there was an increase in the wasted food generation estimate between 2017 and 2018, which results in a lower composting rate even though the tons composted remained the same from 2017 to 2018. 14. [2] The Global E-waste Monitor is a yearly report on the global impact of E-waste and seeks to educate the wider public on the challenges they can help combat. In 2018, 17.7 million tons of food (28.1 percent of generation of wasted food) was managed through animal feed, co-digestion/anaerobic digestion, bio-based materials/biochemical processing, donation, land application and sewer/wastewater treatment. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"When measured per capita, Europeans (16.2 Kg) produce the most e-waste per person, followed by Oceania (16.1 Kg) and the Americas (13.3 Kg).\n\nAfrican residents produce the least amount of e-waste per capita. Food composting was negligible in 1990, rose to 2.2 percent (680,000 tons) in 2000, 5.3 percent (2.1 million tons) in 2015 and 6.3 percent (2.6 million tons) in 2017. China, the US, and India produce the most electronic waste. All rights reserved. What Happens to E-Waste When It Gets Recycled? This just leaves the major electronics manufacturers themselves, as well as us: the people who line up outside of stores for hours and hours in order to buy whatever is being deemed as the newest, the fastest, the slimmest, the lightest, the best. In 2005 it was 62 percent, in 2017 it was 69 percent, and in 2018 it was 63 percent. E-waste accounts for about 70% of toxic waste. Last year, we produced more than 16 pounds of e-waste for every one of the 7.8 billion people living on Earth. This compares to 35 million tons (16.8 percent of total generation) in 1990. If all the metals were recovered from 100,000 phones, they'd yield an estimated 5.3 pounds (2.4 kilograms) of gold, more than 1,984 pounds (900 kilograms) of copper, 55 pounds (25 kilograms) of silver, and more. Your body clock holds the answer. The most up-to-date stats show Australians generated 67 million tonnes of waste in 2016-2017. Growth in the recycling rate was significant over the next 15 years, spanning until 2005. Global electronic waste volume is projected to grow to 74.7 Mt by 2030 meaning it will have almost doubled in only 16 years. By the end of 2019, 78 countries had a national e-waste policy, legislation, or regulation. The e-waste research organisation Material Focus calculates that at least 500,000. Local governments often have e-waste collection days a few times a year, but that means that homeowners have to store the unwanted items in the meantime. With the reauthorization of the farm bill next year, we have a chance to shift the U.S. agricultural system from a climate problem to a climate solution. So why are we generating more metric tons of e-waste than ever before? It also contributes directly to global warming. The total is growing by an average of 2 Mt a year. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date A giant mass of seaweed threatens beach season in the U.S. An unprecedented mission for 500 baby sharks, Arctic ice is getting thinner and sea life is suffering, Migration and movement in the Anthropocene, Nature is out of syncand reshaping everything, everywhere, The truth behind 5 St. Patricks Day symbols, The Ides of Marcha day of murder that forever changed history, While Napoleon conquered nations, his sister conquered hearts, Meet the women who risked everything to be the first to fly, These pirates went eastand stole the biggest booty ever. Currently, only 78 countries have adopted any sort of e-waste legislation or policy. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Will E-Waste Continue to Increase in the Future?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. This trash ends up in landfills, is burned in incinerators, or finds its way into our environment, where it litters our parks and beaches, pollutes our oceans, and can harm the wildlife that come into contact with it. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It is estimated that 57.4 Mt (Million Metric Tonnes) of e-waste was generated globally in 2021.\n\nThere has been an increase year on year since e-waste data started being collected in 2014. While every generation of electronics gets a little more efficient, we should make our phones, tablets, TVs, and computers last as long as possible to reduce the amount of e-waste sent to landfills and most of our electronics still go unrecycled. Many items can be repaired rather than replaced, often much more cheaply than simply spending on a newer model. Countries like the United States regulate where and how e-waste gets recycled, but many goods still fill landfills instead. In 2018, about 146.1 million tons of MSW were landfilled. 77 pounds of plastic bottles and jars. Having this data could help governments and companies manage their e-waste. When e-waste materials are not recycled, new raw materials are required to create new EEE. This figure has fallen in the last 5 years as a percentage of total waste generated. 90 pounds of tossed-out clothes and shoes. Cant live without that new phone that just came on the market? 57% of those units were plastic water bottles: 57.3 billion sold in 2014. United Nations University provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK. If the trend continues, the number of fast fashion waste is expected to soar up to 134 million tonnes a year by the end of . That amounts to about 29 pounds per week, and 1,600 pounds per year from the average American. Roughly 50 million tons of e-waste is produced a year and most of it is shipped to / dumped in poor countries in Asia and Africa.

Colorful Standard Review: Organic, Sustainable & Ethical? 2 July 2020, Bonn A record 53.6 million metric tonnes (Mt) of electronic waste was generated worldwide in 2019, up 21 percent in just five years, according to the UN's Global E-waste Monitor 2020, released today. The world produces as much as 50 million tonnes of electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) a year, weighing more than all of the commercial airliners ever made. The Agency is developing additional tools to provide information on other environmental benefits and will include these tools and data as they become available. Given that only 61 countries had undertaken such legislation as of 2014, the goal seems plausible, if ambitious. In 2019, 53.6 million tonnes of E-waste was produced. What's the Best Bed Frame for Avocado Mattress Owners?

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What Percentage of Electronic Waste Is Recycled? Source: WARM model Version 15. This is equivalent in weight to all the commercial aircraft ever built. Only 20% of this is formally recycled. [9] The world also produces more than 29 million US tons of polystyrene (plastic foam) each year. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which Region Produces the Most E-Waste per Capita?

This could be reduced or avoided if e-waste was recycled.\n\nAlso, refrigerants used in temperature control EEE such as refrigerators or air conditioners are themselves greenhouse gases. The study revealed that more than 6.7 million metric tons of ICT e-waste was produced in 2016. Plastics comprised about 16 percent, and paper and paperboard made up about 12 percent. Last year the ITU approved a new environmentally friendly standard for a universal charger for laptops and other portable devices. In new research, we found that Europe has the highest collection and recycling rate, covering about 42.5% of the total e-waste generated in 2019. [3] The decommissioning of nuclear facilities will create additional very large amounts of nuclear waste. Recycling paper facts show that recycling a ton of paper saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, three cubic yards of landfill space, 60 pounds of air pollutants, and saves enough energy to power an average home for six months. There was an increase from 23.4 million to 24.9 million tons of food and yard trimmings composted between 2015 and 2018. 1.16 pounds per person per day for recycling. This is likely to be a conservative estimate for the following reasons: On average, the global e-waste generation has increased by 2 Mt annually over the last decade. Over time, recycling and composting rates have increased from just over 6 percent of MSW generated in 1960 to about 10 percent in 1980, to 16 percent in 1990, to about 29 percent in 2000, and to about 35 percent in 2017. The increase from 2017 to 2018 is mainly the result of EPAs inclusion of additional wasted food management pathways. Landfilling of waste has decreased from 94 percent of the amount generated in 1960 to 50 percent of the amount generated in 2018. But if all of this missing e-waste were to be collected, handled, and disposed of properly, we could be pulling a lot more than toxic chemicals out of it. Over this period, China imported between 7 and 9 million tonnes of plastic waste per year. Firstly, we need to dispose of used EEE correctly. But since only 17.4% of 2019s e-waste was collected and recycled, just US$10 billion of this was recovered in an environmentally responsible way. Enormous Viking ship holds surprising clues on burial rituals. There are six main. Not all e-waste recyclers are the same. This means that easily recyclable parts might be recycled, but it will usually be done poorly. The world produced nearly 54 million tons (49 million metric tons) of used electrical and electronic products last year . According to Allen, if the recycling rates for gold (15%), silver (15%), and platinum (5%) all increased to 100%, the electronics sector could realize $12 billion in financial and natural capital benefits. Management of MSW continues to be a high priority for state and local governments. Thanks for signing up. Pressure is growing on tech companies to do away with their strategies of planned obsolescence and to make it easier for electronics consumers to repair their older devices instead of tossing them out. In 2018, plastic products generation was 35.7million tons, or 12.2 percent of generation. This is one issue that each of us can help to tackle at an individual level. Save the planet. And as wireless technology continues to develop, we need fewer and fewer of the cords and cables that we once relied on for connectivity. Michigan is the state with the most trash per capita, with Indiana and Illinois ranking . One of the earliest laptops, the Macintosh PowerBook 100, weighed more than five pounds when it was released in 1991; the lightest laptop currently on the market is less than two. This covered some 71% of the worlds population, a significant increase from just 44% 5 years previously. Let's look at some paper wastage facts: 1. So lets all do our bit. This information can also be used as a baseline so e-waste growth can be accurately measured in the future. The market was valued at $49,880 million in 2020, and it is projected to almost triple to $143,870 million by 2028. An additional 17.7 million tons of food were managed by other methods. E-waste is the one problem that we can do something about without relying on corporations or governments. In 2018, the amount of MSW generated was 292.4 million tons. The average American produces 4.5 pounds of waste every single day. National Food Waste Strategy Feasibility Study It is estimated that the 53.6 Mt of e-waste generated in 2019 contained raw materials worth around $57 billion. Just how bad it gets depends on how quickly we act. The e-waste produced annually is worth over $62.5 billion, more than the GDP of most countries.

So whats to be done? It also includes environmentally sound waste management through combustion with energy recovery and conversion, as well as landfilling practices that meet current standards or newly emerging waste conversion technologies. 2. Since then, annual production has increased nearly 230-fold, reaching 460 million tonnes in 2019. . Old electronics are burned in an open air pit in Accra, Ghana, in order to more easily extract the valuable copper wires. Together, almost 94 million tons of MSW were recycled and composted, equivalent to a 32.1 percent recyclingand composting rate. UN Environment is proud to support this innovative partnership with the Government of Nigeria and the Global Environment Facility and support the countrys efforts to kick start a circular electronics system. The generation rate in 1960 was just 2.68 pounds per person per day. Aside from toxins, e-waste also contains precious metals and useful raw materials, such as gold, silver, copper and platinum.

Look for an e-waste recycling company that has been vetted through. It is estimated that 57.4 Mt (Million Metric Tonnes) of e-waste was generated globally in 2021. Worst of all, its completely unnecessary. Find your information in our database containing over 20,000 reports. Weve seen that smaller items add up to the largest share of global e-waste. As much as 7% of the worlds gold may currently be contained in e-waste, with 100 times more gold in a tonne of e-waste than in a tonne of gold ore. Beverage Bottles Alone. Number of cars taken off the road/year was calculated using the Greenhouse Gas Equivalency Calculator, updated March 2020. If nothing changes, that number is supposed to hit 74 million tonnes (approximately 81.6 million tons) by 2030, meaning that e-waste is growing by about three to four percent every year. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which Countries Produce the Most E-waste? In 2000, it reached 4.74 pounds per person per day and then decreased to 4.69 pounds per person per day in 2005.

In 2018, 34.6 million tons of MSW were combusted with energy recovery. Right now, just over half of U.S. states have laws on the books regulating the disposal of e-waste, but there is currently no federal law requiring it to be recycled or prohibiting it from being exported to developing countries, even though such legislation has been proposed repeatedly over the years. MMTCO2E is million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. 1. Taken together, 2019s discarded electronics weighed as much as 350 Queen Mary 2 ocean liners. Another 4.2 million metric tons of consumer electronic waste . As researchers, well continue to monitor the worlds e-waste to support the creation of a circular economy and sustainable societies. Watch this clever heron throw shadeliterally, Video Story, Migration and movement in the Anthropocene, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. 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Parts might be recycled, new raw materials are not recycled, new raw was. # x27 ; s look at some paper wastage facts: 1 were combusted with energy increased... Last 5 years previously be accurately measured in the future 16.8 percent of generation in absolute terms, produces! Materials, such as gold, silver, copper and platinum to 24.9 million tons of e-waste. In 2021 than simply spending on a newer model will create additional very large amounts of nuclear waste rather. Triple to $ 143,870 million by 2028 about without relying on corporations or governments Avocado Mattress Owners and Sustainable....