Households and businesses in the EU, the UK, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland are generating around 10.7 million tonnes of electronic waste every year. — dpa
BRUSSELS: Mobile phones, laptops, cables and household appliances: The electronics we throw away are full of raw materials – potential value that is largely being lost, according to a new report.
Households and businesses in the EU, the UK, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland generated around 10.7 million tonnes of electronic waste in 2022 – approximately 20 kilograms per person.
Roughly 10% of this waste consists of critical raw materials, which are economically vital but at high risk of supply shortages. The figures come from a report compiled by the EU-funded project FutuRaM for International E-Waste Day on October 14.
This electronic waste contains 29 critical raw materials with a total weight of around one million tonnes. However, only about 400,000 tonnes were recovered.
The report highlights what was recovered in 2022: approximately 162,000 tonnes of copper, 207,000 tonnes of aluminium, 12,000 tonnes of silicon, 1,000 tonnes of tungsten and two tonnes of palladium.
Despite EU-compliant recycling processes, around 100,000 tonnes of critical raw materials were lost, primarily rare earth metals, which are difficult to separate.
Europe relies on third countries for over 90% of its critical raw materials, yet we recycle some of these materials at a rate of only 1%, said EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall in a statement from the international WEEE Forum, which organises International E-Waste Day and has 50 member organisations. WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
According to the report, 46% of all electronic waste was not disposed of in accordance with EU regulations. Of these approximately 5 million tonnes, 3.3 million tonnes were mixed with other scrap metal, making them only partially recoverable.
Another 700,000 tonnes were landfilled or incinerated with other waste, while 400,000 tonnes were exported for recycling.
EU legislation aims to improve recycling rates by expanding convenient return options, increasing recycling capacity and implementing policy tools such as eco-design requirements and regulations on repairability and durability.
Europe’s electronic waste is not rubbish but a multi-billion-euro resource waiting to be tapped, says Cornelis Peter Baldé, senior author of the report and part of the Sustainable Cycles programme at the UN Institute for Training and Research (Unitar-Scycle).
According to the WEEE Forum, palladium is worth up to US$30,000 (RM126,780) per kilogram, meaning even small improvements in recovery could be worth hundreds of millions.
Regarding critical raw materials, Baldé said every recovered kilogram and repaired device strengthens the economy, reduces dependence on imports and creates new jobs.
In a forecast for 2050, the report predicts that the amount of electronic waste will rise to between 1.2 million and 1.9 million tonnes, depending on whether current practices continue, recycling improves or a true circular economy is established.
The authors expect the share of solar panels in electronic waste to increase significantly by 2050, from 0.15 million to as much as 2.2 million tonnes.
Growth is also forecast for large and small household and IT devices, except for screens and monitors, which are expected to decline.
Magdalena Charytanowicz from the WEEE Forum highlighted on International E-Waste Day that the circular economy begins in every household.
By choosing to repair, reuse and return old electronics through proper collection systems, consumers can help secure a supply of critical raw materials, reduce environmental damage from mining and create new green jobs, Charytanowicz said.
The success of these measures depends not only on legislation but also on the everyday decisions of citizens, she added. – dpa
