E-waste or waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) covers a wide range of products with a power or battery supply: from computers and mobile phones to household appliances or medical devices. It is one of the fastest-growing waste streams and thus a critical global concern. Proper handling and recycling are key: not only because it contains hazardous materials and can have a negative impact on the environment and public health, but e-waste is also a source of scarce and valuable resources.
Increasing volumes of e-waste are directly linked to economic developments. In 2019, almost 54 Mt of WEEE were generated globally, and this number is growing every year. In terms of e-waste generated per capita, the European Union ranks first with 16.2 kg, while Asia generated the highest quantity of e-waste total at 24.9 Mt.
With e-waste, proper management and recycling are crucial. It contains toxic substances that are released into the environment during informal recycling, which results in a direct negative impact on people’s health, pollution, and even contributes to global warming. That is why more and more countries are adopting policies on e-waste. In 2019, 78 countries had policies, regulations, or laws in place that regulated e-waste, which covered 71 % of the world’s population. However, the global collection rate averages only 17 %, with Europe collecting around 55 % WEEE. Not only the number, but the standards of treatments vary greatly around the world.
