Every year, unused cables, electronic toys, LED-adorned clothing, power tools, vaping devices, and countless small consumer products pile up. 9 billion kilograms of electronic waste, one sixth of all global electronic waste. more than this amount the third corresponds to the ‘electronic toys’ category: Small objects of all types that contain important raw materials and are discarded without recycling.
This category of “invisible” e-waste would weigh the equivalent of almost half a million 40-ton trucks, enough to create a 5,640-kilometer truck line from Rome to Nairobi.
Many of these devices, such as electronic cigarettes, contain lithium, which makes their batteries rechargeable, but also poses serious fire risks when the device is disposed of. The European Commission considers lithium to be a “strategic raw material” vital to the European economy and the transition to green energy, but its supply is at risk. Most of these materials are thrown into trash cans and other places at home.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum commissioned the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to estimate annual quantities of “invisible” e-waste.
According to this study, approximately 3,200 million kilos, Of the approximately 9 billion kilos of invisible electronic waste, 35% fall into the category of electronic toys: racing cars, electric trains, musical toys, talking dolls, robotic figures, bicycle computers, drones, etc. some in total 7.3 billion objects are thrown away annuallyan average of one for every inhabitant of the planet.
844 million e-cigarette devices are thrown away every year
They are also thrown out every year 844 million electronic cigarette devices and 950 million kilograms of cables It contained enough valuable and easily recycled copper to circle the Earth 107 times.
Approximately 7.3 billion objects are thrown away annually; That’s an average of one object for every person on the planet.
Many are hiding in homes and Many people do not know that they can be recycled, A huge idle resource at a time when copper demand in Europe alone is expected to increase 6-fold between now and 2030 to meet the needs of strategic sectors such as renewable energies, electric mobility, industry, communications, aerospace and defense industry.
The value of raw materials in global electronic waste generated in 2019 is estimated to be approx. 54 billion euros, most of which is attributed to iron, copper and gold components. One-sixth of the global total, worth around 9 billion euros each year, corresponds to the category of invisible electronic waste.
Other examples of invisible electronic waste commonly seen in homes include: toothbrushes, shavers, external drives and accessories, headphones and earbuds, remote controls, speakers, LED lights, power toolshome medical equipment, heat and smoke detectors and others.
According to Pascal Leroy, Executive Director of the WEEE Forum, “invisible electronic waste goes unnoticed due to its nature or appearance, causing consumers to overlook the recyclable potential of these wastes.”
Hazardous components contained in electronic waste
He adds: “Many people do not recognize some that operate on batteries or cables, such as a smoke detector or a smart thermostat, as electrical products because they do not have a plug. They are also unaware of the hazardous components that electronic waste contains and if not handled properly, such as lead, mercury or cadmium.” “The substances can leak into the soil and water and pollute it,” he warns.
In this situation, WEEE Forum asks everyone to take their electronic waste to appropriate municipal collection facilities.
55% of electronic waste produced in Europe is officially collected and declared, but globally this rate is 17%.
“A significant amount of e-waste is hiding in plain sight,” says Magdalena Charytanowicz of the WEEE Forum. Invisible e-waste often falls off the recycling radar The number of people getting rid of them because they are not considered electronic waste. “We need to change this, and raising awareness is an important part of the response.”
“There have been many efforts and progress in the field of plastic pollution, and especially with the UN plastic agreement in preparation for 2024, people are now more aware of the area of electronic waste,” he assures.
In Europe, thanks to 20 years of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation, 55% of the electronic waste produced is collected and officially declared. Yet other parts of the world are seeing much slower growth rates in e-waste collection, according to the United Nations’ global e-waste watchdog. The average reported collection rate worldwide is just over 17%.
“The urgent problem of waste”
According to European Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius, “The EU is aware of the urgent problems related to electronic waste and is proactively setting an example of leadership. The current increase in the production and consumption of electronic devices has significant consequences for the environment and climate.” sign.
According to him, “promotion Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in electronic waste legislation Twenty years ago, he laid the foundations of an innovative ecosystem and advanced technologies. Although RAP has raised environmental standards, he warns that our journey is not over yet. “We must promote a circular economy for electronics, as for other products, not only to reduce our environmental impact, but also to reduce dependence on third countries by strengthening the value chain.”
E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world. According to Jan Vlak, president of the WEEE Forum, “There is a role for all relevant actors to successfully increase the EPR system, including not only producers but also regulators, consumers, restaurateurs, reuse companies, scrap dealers, retailers and recyclers.” He needs to play.” collection of electronic waste”.
According to the United Nations, 8 kilos of electronic waste will be generated per person worldwide in 2023.
It acknowledges that “the EPR principle needs to be updated, made consistent with circular economy principles, and this new vision integrated into EU legislation and a global agreement to harmonize standards and define key obligations for waste management.” electronic waste.
According to the United Nations, In 2023, 8 kilos of electronic waste will be generated per person worldwide. Only 17.4% of this waste, which contains harmful substances and valuable materials, will be properly collected, treated and recycled. Worldwide. The remaining tens of millions of tonnes will be dumped in landfills, incinerated, traded illegally, inadequately processed or accumulated in homes.
Even in Europe, a world leader in e-waste recycling, only 55% of e-waste is officially recorded as being collected and recycled correctly, and a lack of public awareness is one of the factors preventing countries from developing circular economies for consumers. equipment.
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