So Much E Waste! Why!?

The United States, Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom were all suddenly confronted with a massive waste problem when the Chinese government called for the ban on 24 types of solid waste. Until the decision was made in China, around 70% of electronic waste was coming from other countries. These included old and discarded computers, phones, televisions and microwaves as well as printers and other electronic bits and pieces. The U.S., along with Europe, has been sending their ewaste to Southeast Asia since China’s environmental decision to no longer take in ewaste. Two of the biggest collectors of this waste, Vietnam, and Thailand, have decided to stop importing e-waste.

In 2016, the world had approximately 49 million tonnes of e-waste. The projected 2021 estimates put the amount of ewaste at 57 to 60 millions tons. So why is there such an increase in waste?

E-Waste is on the Rise

Technology is becoming a more integral part of almost every aspect our lives. With sensors and semiconductors being essential components of almost every product, it’s no surprise that we are experiencing an increase in e-waste. Smart homes and wearable technology are becoming more common. These are just a few examples of technology that is making obsolete electronics part of the past.

An increase in technology could cause an increase in e-waste. The surge in technology means that we are replacing and buying electronics at a faster pace than ever before. Also, it is cheaper than ever, making it easier for middle-class families to go digital. 7.7 million people own cell phones.

This post was written by Steven Elia Co-Founder and Recycling Director at eCycle Florida. eCycle Florida is a R2 Certified electronics recycling company in the state of Florida. Our processes and procedures are dedicated to the proper destruction and recycling of your electronics. eCycle Florida is your go-to for commercial electronic recycling