🔌 E-waste around the world
Phones, chargers, TVs, vapes and kitchen gadgets: electronic waste is the fastest-growing waste stream, and most of it is not recycled properly.
What the UN found
The Global E-waste Monitor 2024, from UN bodies including the International Telecommunication Union and UNITAR, reported that the world generated 62 million tonnes of e-waste in 2022. Only 22.3%, less than a quarter, was documented as properly collected and recycled.
It said e-waste is rising five times faster than documented e-waste recycling, and is on track to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030.
Why it matters
Electronics contain valuable metals. The report valued the metals in the 2022 e-waste at US$91 billion. They also contain materials that can harm people and the environment if the items are dumped, burned or broken up carelessly, and lithium batteries can start fires in bins and bin lorries.
What to do with old electronics in the UK
You can usually take small electricals back to a shop that sells similar items, or to a recycling centre. Batteries and vapes need their own collection points. We explain the options in our electrical items guide, battery guide and vape guide. Wipe your personal data from phones and laptops first.
Information on this page comes from the organisations named in the sources, and statistics are only as good as the data countries report. Different reports use different years and methods, so do not compare their numbers directly.
Sources
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we will check it.
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