Each year, an estimated 20-50 million tonnes of WEEE (Waste electrical and electronic equipment) is discarded globally.
This figure is set to increase as prices of electronics decrease and updates and new technology increases. This is particularly relevant in the mobile phone recycling industry as newer technology means that more people are updating their phones and discarding their old ones. Not all sell their mobile to a recycling company and old phones can often end up in the bin.
If not recycled or reused, WEEE has devastating effects on the environment and the health of those in close proximity to it.
A recent study has analysed 5 continents and explored how they approach the regulation and prevention of E-waste.
European Union – in 2007 6.5 million tonnes of WEEE was disposed of and this figure is estimated to nearly double by 2015. The WEEE Directive comprehensively regulates and promotes reuse and recycling.
North America – in 2007 the estimated amount of WEEE was 2.25 million tonnes. E-waste is often stockpiled (about 75 per cent of obsolete WEEE is in storage) because of high disposal fees and because they have sufficient storage capacity. There is little overall federal legislation although several individual states have implemented WEEE programmes, such as takeback schemes.
South America – there are no overall figures but each year Brazil alone generates 0.68 million tonnes of WEEE.
Asia
China – there is no official data on how much WEEE is produced. China has three legislative documents providing guidance on recovery and disposal of WEEE. The vast majority (80%) of discarded WEEE which Asia imports for re-use, recycling or disposal goes to China. The majority of recycled WEEE is processed informally in small workshops.
India – in 2007 an estimated 0.44 million tonnes of WEEE was generated. As with China the majority of recycled WEEE is processed informally in small workshops.
Japan – in 2005 an estimated 0.86 million tonnes of WEEE was produced. Japan has the Home Appliance Recycling Law.
Africa – there is no official data on how much WEEE is produced. As the demand for electrical appliances increases, so does the amount of WEEE produced. Africa imports WEEE and stockpiles it for dismantling and (informal) recycling.
Some of the quantities of WEEE from these areas may be underestimated and in the industry it is felt that there is a need for co-ordinated and standardised methods to deal with the expected future increases of e-waste.