As people prepare to get a slew of new electronics on Black Friday, what will happen to their old ones? With potentially dangerous e-waste becoming the world’s fastest growing waste stream, the importance of electronics recycling is greater than ever.
What is e-waste?
According to a report issued this March by the United Nations, electronic waste – discarded electronic items – is growing globally five times faster than documented e-waste recycling. In 2022, 62 million tons of e-waste was generated and less than 25% was documented as having been properly collected and recycled in 2022. By 2030, the annual generation of e-waste is expected to reach 82 million tons as demand for smartphones and other electronics increases.
“Challenges contributing to the widening gap include technological progress, higher consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles, society’s growing electronification, design shortcomings, and inadequate e-waste management infrastructure,” said the UN.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “an undetermined amount of used electronics,” is shipped from the U.S. and other developed countries to “developing countries that lack the capacity to reject imports or to handle these materials appropriately.” This can lead to what the EPA called “improper practices,” when dealing with the materials.
“Informal e-waste recycling activities may have several adverse health effects,” said the World Health Organization. “Children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable.”
In a recent report, the BBC covered the Agbogbloshie dumpsite in Ghana, where workers have experienced health issues dealing with items such as old cables and TVs. These old electronics can be filled with valuable metals such as copper and gold, but also with dangerous toxins, such as mercury and lead.
“I don’t feel well,” said a young worker named Abdulla Yakubu, per the report. It said his eyes were red and watery while he burned cables and plastic.
E-waste is not only a dangerous environmental hazard, as the BBC noted in its report, but a waste of resources. Per the UN’s report, waste from 2022 had $62 billion worth of recoverable natural resources unaccounted for.
In the U.S., the EPA, “recognizes the inherent value of these materials that can be reused, refurbished or recycled to minimize the actual waste that might end up in a landfill or improperly disposed in an unprotected dump site either in the U.S.
or abroad.”
For example, for every million cell phones recycled, 35 thousand pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered.
How to recycle electronics
So, how do we do that? Here are some ways you can get rid of your old gadgets, as responsibly as possible.
Local drop off locations can be found on the Call2Recycle, Earth 911 or the Consumer Technology Association websites recommended by the EPA. A zip code search will show users businesses, such as Home Depot and Target, that accept electronic recycling drop offs. The EPA also recommends that people updating their computers or laptops instead of buying a brand-new product, deleting personal information off recycled items and warns to recycle batteries separately.
“Electronics donation and recycling is a great way to help conserve resources and natural materials,” said the EPA. “It is important to make sure you are donating and/or recycling electronics safely and correctly.”
However, John Shegerian, chairman and chief executive officer of electronic waste recycler ERI, said just 12% of e-waste in the U.S. was recycled as of 2019, according to Forbes. Per an October press release, ERI teamed up with Staples to “support an innovative new nationwide consumer technology trade-in program,” that rewards customers who bring in still working electronic devices with e-gift cards for use in the store.
“This Tech Trade-In program can be utilized at every Staples store nationwide,” said the release.
Best Buy is another retailer that offers a trade in program.
“At most Best Buy stores, you can recycle up to three items per household per day (see categories below for state-specific info, and different limitations on TVs, computer monitors and laptops),” said the company. “Plus, haul-away options are available for larger items in your home.”
By January, a global waste treaty called the Basel Convention will require exporters to declare all e-waste and obtain permission from recipient countries. The U.S. hasn’t yet ratified the convention, and the BBC reported that some have said that this contributes to e-waste trafficking.
According to the United Nations report, “if countries could bring the e-waste collection and recycling rates to 60% by 2030, the benefits – including through minimizing human health risks – would exceed costs by more than [$38 billion].”