E-waste is rapidly becoming one of the greatest challenges of the 21st Century.
According to the Global E-waste Monitor, 44.7 million metric tonnes of e-waste are generated each year as of 2017. 2022 was a record year for e-waste generation with 62 million tonnes being generated. As tech innovations continue to place new devices in front of consumers, this figure is anticipated to rise beyond crisis point.
The ‘right to repair’ system has come into effect in the EU and aims to make tech devices more accessible and climate friendly. The law covers a range of household and personal tech appliances, including mobile phones, televisions, washing machines, and refrigeration appliances.
The idea is that by encouraging consumers to repair and reuse their current tech, rates of e-waste expansion will slow and less electronic devices will be discarded into landfill. However, experts have warned that current policies aren’t enough to tackle the significant rise in global e-waste.
Present rates of e-waste recycling are improving, with 22.3 per cent of e-wate generated in 2022 being recorded as officially recycled, up from 17.4 per cent in 2019. But waste generation is still far exceeding waste recycling.
E-waste represents a mass of potentially high value items, all of which go to waste if not recycled or disposed of properly. According to the UN’s Global E-Waste Monitor, the e-waste generated in 2022 “contained 31 billion kg of metals, 17 billion kg of plastics and 14 billion kg of other minerals, glass and composite materials.” The value of the materials embedded in e-waste produced that year was valued above $91bn, the majority of which went to waste.
Further, the clean energy transition is dependent of green tech innovation and production, which will in turn generate e-waste at the end of its lifecycle. Managing clean energy processes from start to finish involves developing clear and structured e-waste strategies.
Green tech firms have a key role to play when it comes to curbing global e-waste. Take the example of waste generated from photovoltaic (PV) panels. In 2022, 0.6 billion kg of e-waste was generated from PV panels, a figure expected to increase to 2.4 billion kg by 2030 as we transition to renewable energy sources.
A lot of renewable tech is dependent on equipment and materials that might become e-waste at the end of its cycle. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals outline this issue, stating the importance of sustainably and environmentally responsible energy practices. This involves managing renewable energy systems throughout their entire lifecycle to ensure their impacts are positive.
Clean growth reliant on green technology must be backed by strong e-waste policy and solutions.
Mark Shepherd, Green Economy Consultant
Current policy on e-waste varies in impact and importance from country to country. Presently, 81 of 193 countries have policy, legislation, or regulation covering e-waste. However, a significant portion of present policies fail to outline targets for collection and recycling of e-waste and don’t cover all 6 types of e-waste.
The EU has outlined its ‘Right to Repair’ rules inviting consumers to prioritise repair over replacement and give manufacturers the responsibility to intervene before functioning tech products are sent to landfill. The EU is also trialling digital passports under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation meaning there will be transparency regarding the lifecycle of tech products from manufacture to end of life.
At present very few policies on e-waste focus on the collection and extraction of critical raw materials embedded in tech. Currently, only around 1 per cent of rare earth elements contained in e-waste is recycled. These materials are valuable and have a breadth of practical applications if recycled effectively, and the vast majority of green technology products contain materials such as steel, iron, silver, cobalt, lithium, rhodium, and more.
Are you looking to cut down on your e-waste? Read our 5 essential tips to reduce your organisation’s e-waste today.
