UN report reveals electronic scrap rising 5 times faster than documented e-scrap recycling

Global generation of electronic scrap is rising five times faster than documented e-scrap recycling, according to data from the United Nation’s fourth Global E-waste Monitor (GEM).

The report, conducted by The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), says more than 68 million tons of e-waste was produced in 2022, up 82 percent from 2010. Less than one quarter of that was documented as having been properly collected and recycled.

The generation of e-scrap is rising by approximately 2.8 million tons annually and is on track to reach approximately 90 million tons in 2030, a 33 percent increase from the 2022 figure.

The report predicts a drop in the documented collection and recycling rate from 22.3 percent in 2022 to 20 percent by 2030 because of the increasing difference in recycling efforts and infrastructure relative to the growth of e-scrap. The report attributes the widening gap to challenges related to technological progress, higher consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles, electronification, design shortcomings and inadequate e-waste management infrastructure.  

The report estimates the value of metals embedded in landfilled e-waste in 2022 to be $91 billion, including $19 billion in copper, $15 billion in gold and $16 billion in iron.

“The latest research shows that the global challenge posed by e-waste is only going to grow,” says Cosmas Zavazava, director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau. “With less than half of the world implementing and enforcing approaches to manage the problem, this raises the alarm for sound regulations to boost collection and recycling.”

According to the report, collection and recycling rates tend to be higher for heavier equipment, such as large devices, temperature exchange equipment, screens and monitors.

In 2022, the European recycling rate was 42.8 percent. Of the total amount of e-waste generated globally that year, approximately 50 percent was generated in Asia at 30 million metric tons (more than 33 million tons). Approximately 17.6 million tons of e-waste was recycled outside of formal systems in high- and upper-middle income countries with developed e-waste management infrastructure and approximately 19.8 million tons was managed by the informal sector in low and lower-middle income countries with no e-waste management infrastructure. The report says material values recovered by the informal sector are largely offset by health and environment costs.

“No more than 1 percent of demand for essential rare earth elements is met by e-waste recycling,” says Kees Baldé, a lead author at UNITAR. “Simply put, business as usual can’t continue. This new report represents an immediate call for greater investment in infrastructure development, more promotion of repair and reuse, capacity building and measures to stop illegal e-waste shipments.”

In 2023, 81 counties had e-waste legislation, up from 78 in 2019. Of those countries, 67 had laws governing e-waste management with provisions promoting extended producer responsibility (EPR). According to the report, the enforcement of e-waste policy, legislation and regulations remains a global challenge.