Experts Call for a Stop to Disposing Electronics with Regular Trash

Each year, around 14 million tons of electronic waste are discarded alongside household trash — equivalent in weight to about 24,000 of the world’s heaviest passenger planes. These planes could form a continuous line stretching from London to Helsinki, New York to Miami, Cairo to Tripoli, and Bangkok to Kolkata.

Careless disposal of e-waste wastes precious resources; proper e-waste management could reduce carbon emissions by 93 million tons annually, equivalent to taking 20 million cars off the road.

International E-Waste Day 2024: "Join the E-Waste Cleanup — Recycle, Reuse, Recover"

Ahead of International E-Waste Day on October 14, consumers worldwide are encouraged to gather old or unused electronics. Through reuse or repair, these items can be given a second life, or they can be properly recycled. Most importantly: stop putting them in household trash bins.

The 2024 Global E-Waste Monitoring Report, prepared by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), reveals that nearly a quarter of discarded electronic waste ends up in household garbage, wasting billions of dollars in valuable metals like copper and gold and other critical materials, including plastics and glass.

The 14 million tons of electronic waste discarded with regular household trash each year (items with batteries or plugs) is equivalent to approximately 24,000 of the world’s heaviest aircraft, enough to form continuous lines stretching from London to Helsinki, New York to Miami, Cairo to Tripoli, or Bangkok to Kolkata.

Pascal Leroy, Director-General of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum in Brussels, noted, “Small electronics and appliances like phones, toys, remotes, game consoles, headphones, lamps, screens, heating and cooling devices, and chargers are everywhere. Embedded electronics in consumer products, even clothing, are now ubiquitous. For example, lithium from the 844 million e-cigarettes discarded in 2022 alone could power 15,000 electric cars.”

Magdalena Charytanowicz, from the WEEE Forum, which organizes International E-Waste Day, added, "We know what needs to be done and can do better.” She suggests that a good starting point for many people is the “junk drawer” common in households.

Why do people hoard small electronic waste? Worldwide, there are 108 phones for every 100 people. Previous surveys indicate that European households alone hold around 700 million unused or broken phones — averaging over two per household.

Charytanowicz noted, “Hoarding is mostly an issue in wealthier countries. Elsewhere, devices are often retained due to concerns over personal data security or the potential for value recovery.”

A 2022 survey provided insights into why many EU households and businesses fail to repair or recycle e-waste.

The survey, conducted by nonprofit entities within the WEEE Forum and compiled by UNITAR's Sustainable Cycles (SCYCLE) program, revealed that European households possess an average of 74 electronic items, such as phones, tablets, laptops, power tools, hairdryers, toasters, and other appliances (excluding lighting). Covering 8,775 households across EU countries such as Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy, Romania, and Slovenia, the survey also included data from the UK.

Among the 74 electronic items per household, 13 are hoarded (9 are unused but functional, 4 are broken).

Top reasons for hoarding electronics in Europe:

- Might be used again in the future (46%)

- Intended for sale or gifting (15%)

- Sentimental value (13%)

- Potential future value (9%)

- Unsure of disposal methods (7%)

Additional reasons:

- Lack of time, forgot, doesn’t take up space (3%)

- Planned for use in a second home (3%)

- Contains sensitive data (2%)

- No motivation for recycling (1%)

Research highlights the main factors motivating people to recycle e-waste:

- Awareness: Understanding where and how to dispose of e-waste and why it matters.

- Convenient recycling points: Easy access to recycling facilities makes the right choice simpler.

- Incentives: Financial or other rewards motivate some consumers.

- Social norms: Following the example set by others.

- Environmental concern: Growing awareness of environmental impact.

- Charity: Donating unused devices to benefit others is a powerful motivator.

Last year, the fourth International E-Waste Day was supported by 195 organizations from 55 countries. This year, the WEEE Forum invites all organizations involved in effective and responsible e-waste management to raise awareness on October 14. Activities may include social media, TV, and radio campaigns, e-waste collection drives in cities or schools, and even artistic performances.