Electronic Waste: Growing Five Times Faster than Recycling Efforts, Says UN Report
SMARTPHONECONSUMER TECHLATESTCOMPUTER & LAPTOPTABLETS & IPADSTECH 101
The Global E-waste Monitor 2024 report reveals that electronic waste is growing five times faster than the rate of documented e-waste recycling, according to the UN.
Electronic waste or E-waste, includes any discarded device with a plug or battery like smartphones, computers, televisions, batteries, and other electronic gadgets, poses significant health and environmental risks due to toxic substances like mercury, which can damage the human brain and coordination system.
The report predicts a decline in the documented collection and recycling rate, dropping from 22.3% in 2022 to just 20% by 2030. This is attributed to the widening gap between the rapid growth of e-waste and the slow pace of recycling despite the efforts.
According to the report, a record 62 million tonnes (Mt) of e-waste were generated in 2022, marking an 82% increase since 2010. The figure is projected to grow by another 32%, reaching 82 million tonnes by 2030. That is roughly a volume of 328,000 Olympic-size swimming pools, or 1,640,000 fully-loaded cargo ships!
Source: https://ewastemonitor.info/the-global-e-waste-monitor-2024/
What Could be the Cause?
Several challenges are contributing to this disparity, such as rapid technological advancements, increased consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles, the rise of electronic devices in daily life, design flaws, and insufficient e-waste management infrastructure.
What can be done?
Recycle. Recycle. Recycle!
Despite the causes that potentially contributing to the spike in the e-waste, there are also countless of efforts and campaigns encouraging recycling of e-waste.
We listed below the places you can check out to recycle your e-waste.
Benefits: 0.1kg of waste will eligible for Tack Points rewards scheme.
Location: IKEA Damansara, IKEA Cheras, IKEA Tebrau, and IKEA Batu Kawan
Contact: 03-7952 7575 l customerservice.ikeamy@ikano.asia
2. Erth App
Doorstep collection and postage available (charges applicable)
Benefits: Free service with minimum of three listed devices
Location: Ground Floor, G-3A, Kanvas Retail @ Prima 15, Jalan Teknokrat 6, Cyberjaya, 63000 Cyberjaya, Selangor
Contact: +6014-2211446 l hello@erth.app
3. Tech Waste
Express pickup with instant cash out.
Recyclable e-waste: Most electronic devices
Benefits: Instant cash out. Check prices on their website.
Location: G-G-17, Jalan PP 28, Taman Pinggiran Putra, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia
Contact: 017-44 00 204 l contact@mysite.com
Trade in for credit recycle method also available with Apple, Maxis, Samsung, and more.
Check out recycling centers near you: https://ewaste.doe.gov.my/index.php/about/list-of-collectors/
Read more on What should you do before you recycle old devices