The electronic waste generated globally is up by 21 percent in five years, according to the 2020 United Nations E-waste Monitor. In 2019, a record 53.6 million metric tonnes (Mt) of waste was generated worldwide. Experts are worried that by 2030, global e-waste would peak at 74Mt which by implication will mean a doubling in just 16 years.
“Informal and improper e-waste recycling is a major emerging hazard silently affecting our health and that of future generations,” says Maria Neira, the Director of Environment, Climate Change and Health Department of the World Health Organization (WHO).“One in four children is dying from avoidable environmental exposures. One in four children could be saved, if we take action to protect their health and ensure a safe environment,” she said.
E-waste is a health and environment hazard, containing toxic additives or hazardous substances such as mercury, which cause damages to the human brain and coordination system.The 2020 Global E-waste Monitor was produced by the Global E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP) that was formed by the United Nations University (UNU), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA).
GESP helps countries across the world to compile relevant national policy-making statistics using an internationally-recognised harmonized measurement framework. The GESP contributes to monitoring of relevant waste streams, measuring progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals 11.6, 12.4 and 12.5.
According to the report, only 17.4 percent of the 2019 e-waste was collected and recycled, “this means that gold, silver, copper, platinum and high-value, recoverable materials conservatively valued at US $57 billion, a sum greater than the Gross Domestic Product of most countries, were mostly dumped or burned rather than being collected for treatment and reuse.”
Asia, generated 24.9 Mt. in 2019, the largest volume of e-waste, followed by Americas that generated 13.1 Mt and Europe, 12 Mt. Africa and Oceania generated 2.9 Mt and 0.7 Mt respectively.
The 2020 Global E-waste Monitor revealed that an estimated 98 Mt of CO2- equivalents were released into the atmosphere from discarded fridges and air-conditioners, contributing about 0.3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The report also revealed that the number of countries that have adopted a national e-waste policy, legislation or regulation have increased to 78 from 61, yet it is far from the target set by the International Telecommunication Union‘s target which is to raise the percentage of countries with an e-waste legislation to 50 percent.
The Rector of UNU, David Malone, lamented that humanity is not sufficiently implementing the SDGs. He advised that greater efforts are urgently needed to ensure smarter and more sustainable global production, consumption, and disposal of electrical and electronic equipment.
