E-waste Facts
Businesses and homes chuck out billions of old electronic items every year. It could be replacing cell phones when it’s time to upgrade, installing new TVs in a hotel, or getting rid of broken friers from a restaurant kitchen. These are all examples of e-waste whether such electrical products no longer work or just aren’t needed.
The modern digital world means many of us rely on electronics in our daily domestic and working lives. Globally, we produce around 62 million tons of e-waste every year. However, it’s expected that the figure will increase in the coming years as electronic waste is one of the quickest-growing solid waste streams on the planet.
The scale of electronic waste is shocking in the US and worldwide. To understand why it’s so important to reduce, reuse, and recycle electrical items we’ve compiled some key electronic waste facts and statistics. Check out these electrifying facts about e-waste.
How much e-waste is
produced each year?
Every year around 62 million tons of e-waste are produced globally. This is one of the fastest-growing waste streams and has increased by 82% since 2010, as we use and throw away more old electronics every year. Worldwide an extra 2.6 million tons of electrical waste are generated each year.
It’s predicted that the world will create more than 80 million tons of e-waste by 2030, which would be a 33% increase, if the current rate continues. Should this rise carry on then by 2050 the production of electronic waste could double and exceed 120 million tons.
How much e-waste is
recycled each year?
Only 22.3% of e-waste was recycled from around the world in 2022, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). That means less than a quarter of all electronic items thrown away are recycled. Therefore, less than 15 million tons of e-waste are recycled globally every year and about 45 million tons are disposed of in other ways.
Electronic waste recycling rates vary across countries and regions. Estonia, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden lead the way as they all have e-waste recycling rates higher than 70%. China, the USA, and India produce the most electronic trash, but all have recycling rates below 16%.
The amount of e-waste created each year is increasing five times quicker than the recycling rate for electronic trash. In a report by the UN, it predicts the collection and recycling rate for e-waste may fall to 20% by 2030 due to a widening gap between e-waste generation and recycling efforts worldwide.
US e-waste statistics
The USA creates the second-highest amount of e-waste in the world (behind China). This includes businesses, households, and individuals discarding electrical appliances and devices such as fridges, laptops, and TVs to old cell phones, batteries, and vapes. Electronic waste volumes and recycling rates vary across the country between states and cities.
Get an idea of how much electrical trash we throw away with these statistics and facts about e-waste in the US:
- The US generates 9 million tons of e-waste every year
- It’s estimated that around 25% of e-waste is recycled in the US
- Electronic trash only makes up around 2% of the USA’s total waste streams
- Only 25 US states have electronics recycling laws in place
- That means 25 US states have no legislation that requires e-waste to be recycled (including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Nevada)
- Recycling one million laptops saves enough energy to power more than 3,500 homes in the US for a year
- Recycling one million cell phones in the US can recover around
- 772,000 pounds of silver
- 35,000 pounds of copper
- 75 pounds of gold
- 33 pounds of palladium
- About 80% of e-waste from the US is transported to Asia
- Cell phones that contain $60 million worth of gold and silver are thrown away in the US each year
Global e-waste statistics
More than 60 million tons of e-waste is produced across the planet every year and it’s expected to keep growing. Volumes of electronic garbage and recycling rates vary across countries and continents. Currently, China produces the most e-waste in the world as it generates 10.1 million tons every year.
See how much waste the world produces with these global e-waste statistics:
- The world creates an average of 1 lbs per capita per year of electronic waste
- Managing electronic waste costs the world $37 billion every year
- All the metals that e-waste produced annually contain are valued at $91 billion
- Worldwide electronic waste contains
- Annual global e-waste production weighs similar to that of 107,000 of the world’s largest passenger aircraft (853 seats)
- 1 million tons of e-waste are shipped across borders every year
- About 70% of toxic waste is due to electronic waste
- It’s estimated there are 48 million tons of undocumented e-waste produced globally each year (alongside the 62 million tons reported)
- Only 42% of countries have an e-waste policy, legislation, or regulations in place
- Europe has an e-waste recycling rate of 42.8%
E-waste landfill facts
Many electrical products contain toxic materials such as lead, cadmium, and beryllium. These can leach into the ground, water sources, and release into the air if old electronics are disposed of in landfills. Exposure can affect human, environmental, and wildlife health, which is why reducing and recycling e-waste is vital.
Electronic devices also contain precious metals like gold and silver. Recovering and recycling these valuable metals is important as many of them are finite. If they end up in landfills then they’re of no use and add to pollution levels. These are some key e-waste landfill facts and statistics:
- Up to 85% of e-waste is sent to landfills and incinerators around the world
- Electronic waste is responsible for 70% of toxic chemicals in landfills
- Small electrical items (like toys, kettles, and cell phones) and IT equipment (including tablets) are the most common types of e-waste that end up in landfills
- It’s estimated that $47 billion worth of valuable metals end up in landfills from e-waste that’s not recovered and recycled
- Refrigerators and air con units in landfills release CO2 due to their refrigerants (which are greenhouse gases) that account for 0.3% of total global energy-related emissions
Reduce and recycle e-waste
Have these shocking electronic waste facts and statistics made you think about what happens to your old electricals? Start reducing, recovering, and recycling your e-waste with Business Waste. We can collect, recycle, and advise on efficient management solutions. Find out more about our e-waste collection and recycling services.
If you’re ready to arrange removals and recycling of your commercial e-waste, then we can provide a free no-obligation quote today. Just let us know the types and amounts of old electronic items you need to get rid of and where you’re based. Call 888 584 2118 or contact us online for your free bespoke quote.
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