A growing global middle
class and our tech-saturated lives are burying the planet in electronic waste
In
2016, more than 44 million metric tons of electronic waste was generated, which
is 8 percent higher than the total in 2014, according to a new report.
The
waste reflect the world's "transition to a more digital world, where
automation, sensors and artificial intelligence are transforming all the
industries," said co author Antonis Mavropoulos, president of the
International Solid Waste Association.
It's
only going to get worse—experts project another 17 percent increase by 2021 if
things don't change. That would take the total to more than 52 million metric tons.
E-waste,
considered in the report as products with a battery or cord, contains a bunch
of harmful chemicals such as heavy metals, flame-retardants and polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs).
- 4,500 Eiffel Towers = equal in weight to 2016's e-waste
- 7.7 billion = number of mobile or cellular subscriptions
- 7.4 billion = planet's population
- 45 percent = people globally now using the Internet
- 20 percent = E-waste in 2016 properly recycled
- 38 pounds = E-waste generated per person in Australia and New Zealand (highest in world)
- 35 percent = Europe's collection rate of e-waste (highest in world)
Causes,
some optimism
There
are a number causes for the explosion in waste, said co author Ruediger Kuehr
of United Nations University, but chief among them:
- A growing global middle class
- Strong industry competition spurring the need for newer products
- More and more gadgets on the market that aren't easily repaired
"With
Christmas coming up we're all making Christmas preparation, I'm surprised
myself about what now comes with a battery or a plug," he said.
Kuehr
and colleagues are calling for all countries to better track e-waste and for
manufacturers to design products in a way that makes recycling easier.
There
is some good news: 66 percent of the global population is covered by national e-waste
laws. But only 41 countries actually monitor and measure the waste. "How
can you do good if you don't quantify? Kuehr said.