By Faridat Salifu
Geneva / Bonn – The United Nations’ fourth Global E-waste Monitor (GEM) has revealed a concerning trend: electronic waste generation is increasing five times faster than recycling efforts.
In 2022, a record 62 million tonnes (Mt) of e-waste were produced, marking an 82% rise from 2010. Projections indicate this figure will climb another 32%, reaching 82 million tonnes by 2030.
The report, a collaborative effort between the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), highlights the vast amounts of valuable resources squandered and the significant environmental and health risks posed by improper e-waste management. Currently, only 1% of the global demand for rare earth elements is met through e-waste recycling.
The 62 million tonnes of e-waste generated in 2022 are enough to fill 1.55 million 40-tonne trucks, which would encircle the equator if lined up bumper to bumper. Despite this immense volume, less than a quarter (22.3%) of this e-waste was properly collected and recycled. This left $62 billion worth of recoverable natural resources unaccounted for, exacerbating pollution risks worldwide.
The annual generation of e-waste is increasing by 2.6 million tonnes, putting it on track to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030. E-waste, defined as any discarded product with a plug or battery, contains toxic additives and hazardous substances such as mercury, which can cause severe damage to the human brain and coordination system.
The GEM report forecasts a decline in the documented collection and recycling rate from 22.3% in 2022 to 20% by 2030, due to the growing gap between recycling efforts and the rapid increase in e-waste generation. Factors contributing to this widening gap include technological advancements, higher consumption rates, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles, increasing electronification of society, design shortcomings, and inadequate e-waste management infrastructure.
To address these challenges, the report suggests that achieving a 60% e-waste collection and recycling rate by 2030 would generate benefits exceeding costs by more than $38 billion, primarily through minimized human health risks and environmental protection.
In response to the e-waste crisis, the Nigerian government, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the United Nations Environment Programme launched a $15 million initiative in 2019 aimed at establishing a sustainable electronics economy in Nigeria. This project aims to transform Nigeria’s hazardous informal recycling sector into a formally legislated system that includes a small fee on electronic sales to subsidize formal recycling.
According to the ITU, electronic waste in Nigeria and other countries is expected to rise by 33% to 82 million tonnes by 2030. E-waste encompasses any discarded electronic appliance, from burnt phone chargers to damaged television sets, and it has become the fastest-growing waste stream globally.
The ITU’s recent report underscores that improper disposal of these devices poses significant health and environmental hazards, including exposure to toxic substances like mercury.
Reports indicate that over 500,000 containers of e-waste enter Nigeria every month, exposing the population to severe health risks, including DNA damage, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
“From discarded televisions to dumped telephones, an enormous amount of e-waste is generated around the world. 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,” said Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau.
As new gadgets continue to be invented, the growth of e-waste is set to increase. Although most of these gadgets are not manufactured in Africa, they often end up on the continent, which has become a dumping ground for electronic waste.
The Nigerian initiative aims to address these challenges by creating safe employment opportunities and protecting the environment. This project serves as a global model for a circular electronics system, demonstrating the possibility of managing electronic waste sustainably and equitably.
