1.2.2 E-Waste, a Growing Problem
Course subject(s)
Module 1 Design for Recycling at a Systems Level
In 2019, the world generated 53,6 million metric tonnes (Mt) of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE, also known as e-waste). Europe generated 12 Mt of e-waste and collected and recycled 42,5% of this waste stream. Since EEE is the world’s fastest-growing domestic waste stream, its negative impacts are expected to grow accordingly.
In this video by the World Economic Forum, we visit the world’s largest e-waste disposal site and explore how thinking about the full lifecycle of EEE could improve the situation.
E-waste: Cleaning Up The World's Fastest-Growing Trash Problem
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Main Takeaways
- Electronics are complex products with relatively short use cycles. Once disposed of, their design makes it difficult to take them apart and extract remaining value and materials. This input/output of products cannot be sustained.
- Slowing the e-waste stream down and closing this loop requires changes in the way electronics and systems around them are designed, such as services to stimulate manufacturers to take back their products and cycle them or legislation prohibiting the mishandling of e-waste.