The environmental impact of e-waste

In this article:

• The e-waste crisis: facts and figures
• E-waste in developing countries
• Harmful materials in electronic devices
• The Carbon footprint of IT equipment
• WEEE regulations explained
• The circular economy in IT: reduce, reuse, recycle
• Green IT procurement strategies
• The role of IT recycling in conserving natural resources
• Innovative technologies in e-waste management
• Corporate social responsibility and e-waste
• What can your organisation do to help?

The e-waste crisis: facts and figures

In 2022 alone, the world produced around 62 million tonnes of e-waste, but sadly, only 22.3% of that was properly collected and recycled. That makes e-waste one of the fastest-growing types of waste globally! To put things into perspective, each person contributes about 7.6 kg of e-waste every year. 

The UK generates over 1.6 million tonnes of electronic waste (e-waste) annually, making it one of the fastest-growing waste streams. With the average household owning 25 electronic devices, outdated gadgets accumulate, and around 20% are hoarded. Despite the environmental risks, only 30% of e-waste is properly recycled.

In 2019, 479,000 tonnes of e-waste was recycled, but illegal exports of 500,000 tonnes persist, worsening global environmental issues. The UK’s WEEE Directive aims to recycle 85% of e-waste, with a goal of zero e-waste to landfill by 2030. Mobile phones and laptops are major contributors, with almost 25 million discarded phones recorded in 2020 alone.

E-waste contains valuable components which can be recycled reducing the impact on the planet. Recycling one million mobile phones can recover significant amounts of copper, silver, gold, and palladium, reducing CO2 emissions by 1.5 million tonnes annually.

E-waste in developing countries

The rapid growth of electronic device usage worldwide has led to a significant increase in e-waste, with developing countries disproportionately bearing the burden. Many of these nations lack the infrastructure to manage e-waste safely, resulting in inappropriate disposal methods such as open-air burning or unregulated dumping. This exposes local communities to hazardous substances causing severe health and environmental issues. Sadly, many companies in the developed nations are still illegally exporting e-waste to these areas exacerbating the problem significantly.

When you appoint a partner to manage your organisations IT recycling choose a company that is committed to a ‘No Waste Exported’ promise.

Harmful materials in electronic devices

Our electrical devices are made from a mix of materials, some of which can be harmful. Toxic substances like lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and flame retardants can cause serious health issues.

According to a report by the UN, e-waste that is exported and/or dumped illegally often results in practices that can damage human health, such as:

• Scavenging
• Dumping on land or in water bodies 
• Landfilling along with regular waste 
• Opening burning or heating 
• Acid baths or acid leaching   
• Stripping and shredding plastic coatings

Sadly these practices can expose people to hazardous e-waste. Adverse health outcomes can disproportionately affect women and children, such as:

• Increased rates of stillbirth and premature birth
• Neurodevelopment – especially associated with lead released through informal e-waste recycling activities
• Reduced lung and respiratory function and increased asthma incidence, which may be linked to high levels of contaminated air pollution found in many e-waste recycling sites

The carbon footprint of IT equipment

Did you know that producing electronic devices leaves a significant carbon footprint? Manufacturing just one tonne of laptops can generate up to 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. A University of Oxford study, Environmental Impact of IT: Desktops, Laptops and Screens, estimates that 85% of a desktop and monitor CO2 emissions come from manufacturing and shipping. This underscores the importance of reducing usage and recycling IT equipment wherever possible.

Partnering with reputable IT recycling companies can ensure that end-of-life equipment is reused, dismantled for parts, or separated into recyclable components. This approach helps minimise environmental impact and promotes responsible technology consumption.

WEEE regulations explained

The WEEE Directive (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) was introduced into UK law in 2007. It aims to reduce the production of electronic waste and promote the reuse, recycling, and recovery of IT products, and requires secure disposal of sensitive information and IT equipment.

Businesses involved in importing, manufacturing, selling, or handling electronic equipment must comply with the regulations to ensure proper e-waste disposal. The directive helps divert electronic waste from landfills by mandating separate collection and responsible treatment.

Producers, rather than users, are responsible for covering recycling and treatment costs, encouraging companies to adopt smarter waste management practices. This shift helps promote higher recycling rates and more sustainable electronic disposal.  You can read more about the UK WEEE Directive here.

The circular economy in IT: reduce, reuse, recycle

One promising solution to the e-waste problem is adopting a circular economy approach. This means reducing waste by reusing and recycling materials whenever possible. For example, the use of recycled metals from e-waste can be up to ten times more energy-efficient than mining new materials. However, we still have a long way to go, for instance only about 30% of cobalt (used in batteries) is currently recycled, even though technology exists to recover up to 95%. By focusing on better recycling rates, all businesses can contribute and make a real difference.

Green IT procurement strategies

Organisations and individuals can help by making more environmentally friendly purchasing decisions. When buying new IT equipment, look for products that are energy-efficient, have long lifespans, or are made with recycled materials. Since most of the carbon footprint comes from manufacturing, choosing durable products that don’t need to be replaced as often can significantly reduce environmental harm.

Your organisation might also like to assess how frequently it replaces current technology to determine if extending the use of IT equipment could help reduce waste.

The role of IT recycling in conserving natural resources

Recycling e-waste isn’t just a good idea – in many places, it’s required by law. Different countries have different rules, but most developed nations enforce strict regulations for disposing of obsolete IT equipment. The EU leads the way in e-waste management but still only about 35% of e-waste is officially recycled. 

A planet first approach is important. IT recycling conserves natural resources by decreasing the need for raw materials and energy while reducing waste sent to landfills. Key benefits include:

• Lowering the demand for raw materials and energy consumption
• Minimising greenhouse gas emissions and pollution
• Reducing landfill waste
• Creating jobs and fostering innovation

Innovative technologies in e-waste management

Exciting new technologies are changing the way we handle e-waste, making the process smarter and greener. Here are some examples:

• AI and robotics – used to speed up the recycling process, they can sort and disassemble electronic devices faster than humans, making recycling more efficient and cost-effective. 
• Smart waste bins – these dedicated bins reduce human error in the initial sorting process, which can lower waste management costs by up to 80%. Some IT Recycling companies provide designated WEEE recycling bins on site to support this process. 
• Chemical and nano recycling technology – these technologies break down e-waste materials into their constituents helping to extract and recover valuable components from electronic waste. 
• IoT (Internet of things) technology – is integrated into waste management systems to monitor e-waste generation, collection, and transportation in real-time. 

Other innovations in e-waste management include using biodegradable materials in electronics design, repairing and reusing electronic devices, and embracing a circular economy model. 

Corporate social responsibility and e-waste

Businesses have a big part to play in tackling the e-waste challenge, and many are stepping up through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. By designing products that last longer and are easier to recycle, companies can reduce their environmental footprint. Some are even introducing take-back programs, where customers can return old IT equipment for recycling.

Beyond that, many businesses are investing in recycling infrastructure in places that need it most. These efforts don’t just help the environment, they also build trust with customers who care about sustainability and show that companies are serious about making a positive impact.

Commercially it’s worth noting that employees as well as prospective customers might only choose to work with you if your CSR and sustainability policies are aligned – now is the time to take action.

What can your organisation do to help?

• Write up an IT recycling policy and circulate to your employees to increase awareness.
• Evaluate your IT procurement policy and develop plans to reduce, reuse and recycle.
• Appoint a reputable IT recycling partner — choose those that Promote recycling rather than just destruction and who have a ‘no waste exported’ policy.