Electronic waste at new high, squandering gold, other metals: study

Packed electronic waste are seen outside at a recycling warehouse, in Mexico City, Mexico August 18, 2017. REUTERS/Henry Romero/Files

OSLO: Electronic waste rose to a record 45 million tonnes worldwide in 2016, squandering valuable metals such as gold and copper since few trashed televisions, cellphones or other products get recycled, a UN-backed study showed on Wednesday. 

Rising incomes and falling prices for everything from solar panels to fridges drove up the amount of e-waste – defined as anything with a plug or a battery – by 8% from 41 million tonnes in the last assessment for 2014, it said.