By Lindsay Abrams
The world generated 41.8 million metric tons of e-waste in 2014 alone
Humans generated an astounding 41.8 million metric tons (Mt) of electronic waste in 2014. And we recycled less than 14 percent of it.
A new report from the United Nations University puts new, shocking numbers on our growing production of “e-waste,” which is defined as all electrical and electronic equipment, from cell phones to appliances, that’s tossed away as trash. Figuring out what to do with these products, it stresses, is a massive problem for both developing and developed countries. And it’s projected to get worse.
Here’s the breakdown of our most recent year in e-dumping, according to UNU:
12.8 million metric tons of small equipment (such as vacuum cleaners, microwaves, toasters, electric shavers and video cameras);
The world generated 41.8 million metric tons of e-waste in 2014 alone
Humans generated an astounding 41.8 million metric tons (Mt) of electronic waste in 2014. And we recycled less than 14 percent of it.
A new report from the United Nations University puts new, shocking numbers on our growing production of “e-waste,” which is defined as all electrical and electronic equipment, from cell phones to appliances, that’s tossed away as trash. Figuring out what to do with these products, it stresses, is a massive problem for both developing and developed countries. And it’s projected to get worse.
Here’s the breakdown of our most recent year in e-dumping, according to UNU:
12.8 million metric tons of small equipment (such as vacuum cleaners, microwaves, toasters, electric shavers and video cameras);
- 11.8 million metric tons of large equipment (including washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers, electric stoves, and photovoltaic panels);
- 7.0 million metric tons of temperature-exchange (cooling and freezing equipment);
- 6.3 million metric tons of screens;
- 3.0 million metric tons of small ICT equipment; and
- 1.0 million metric tons of lamps.
By 2018, the amount of e-waste is expected to surge 21 percent, to 50 million Mt, the report finds — a product of the many new electronic products being sold coupled with their shortening lifespans. We’re not building electronics to last, is the implication, and yet we’ve failed to come up with a sufficient strategy for dealing with outdated products once we’ve moved on to the next, newer model.
There are two ways of looking at these mountains of waste. One is as what UNU calls an “urban mine”: The 2014 e-waste stream, according to the report, represents $52 billion in “potentially reusable resources,” boasting 16,500 kilotons of iron, 1,900 kilotons of copper and 300 metric tons of gold — equivalent to 11 percent of the world’s total gold production in 2013.
But our e-waste can also be seen as what UNU calls a “toxic mine”: it contains metals and chemicals that can leach into the environment from landfills. The report estimates that we discarded 2.2 Mt of lead glass, 0.3 Mt of batteries, along with mercury, cadmium, chromium, which are potentially carcinogenic, and are associated with other health problems like impaired mental development and liver and kidney development. It documented some 4,400 tonnes chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs), which harm the ozone layer, as well.
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