A recent report highlights a significant rise in discarded electronics, known as e-waste, with low recycling rates worldwide.
Moses Ndungu and Jamey Keaten report for the Associated Press.
In short:
- A U.N. report estimates that 62 million tons of e-waste were generated in 2022, with projections to reach 82 million tons by 2030.
- Despite valuable materials like copper and gold within e-waste, only 22% was properly recycled in 2022, and this is expected to decrease.
- The growing e-waste challenge is attributed to increased consumption, limited repair options, and inadequate recycling infrastructure.
Key quote:
“Every year it rains and water flows and attracts all these elements that are deposited into the environment. You have water getting contaminated.”
— George Masila, e-waste expert
Why this matters:
As the global appetite for new technology surges, so does the volume of obsolete electronics. These include everything from smartphones and computers to refrigerators and televisions. Developing countries often become the final resting place for this e-waste, due to cheaper disposal costs and less stringent environmental regulations. The health effects? Here's one example: Hormones vital for reproduction are "significantly lower" in men who work with toxic-filled electronic waste.
