Mobile phones, computers, toys go to 10 billion dollars worth of electronic waste every year: We produce 10 kilos of e-waste

Due to the interest in using the latest technologies, the short lifespan of many devices and the low interest in repairing, the amount of electronic waste (e-waste) in homes is also growing like an avalanche.

Unrecycled electronic waste poses a great risk for both human health and the environment.

847 THOUSAND TONS OF GARBAGE

According to calculations by the United Nations, the amount of e-waste in the world could increase to 120 million tons annually by 2050.

According to the “Global E-waste Monitoring Report”, the last of which was announced by the United Nations in 2020, 7.3 kilograms of electronic waste was produced per person worldwide in 2019. Only 17.4 percent of electronic waste was registered and recycled. According to the report, the total amount of electronic waste in Turkey was 847 thousand tons, and the amount of electronic waste per capita was approximately 10.2 kilograms.

People produce 50 million tons of electronic waste every year in the world. This figure is a heavy burden for our planet. Techno waste, whose commercial value reaches 62 billion dollars, also creates a serious economic cost. Most of this waste consists of mobile phones whose lifespan is not very long. The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) also conducted a study on how many devices people throw away every year. It was determined that the total weight of e-cigarettes (vapes) that went to waste alone was approximately equal to six Eiffel Towers. The research also revealed that there are approximately 10 billion dollars worth of basic raw materials that go to waste every year, along with the devices. According to the United Nations, the average collection rate of e-waste for recycling is 17 percent in the world, while this rate is 55 percent in Europe.

5 PERCENT IS RECYCLED

Very little electronics are recycled in Turkey. This rate is around 5 percent. Described as invisible, e-waste goes unnoticed due to its nature or appearance, and consumers overlook their recyclable potential. Organizations working to bring electronic waste into the economy are also increasing. Here are some organizations that collect waste:

The Association for Supporting the Recycling of Electronic Waste buys computers in return for recycled devices, sends them to schools in need, and enables the establishment of laboratories.

The aim of TEGV’s “Don’t Throw Donate” project is to contribute to providing more children with quality education and to reduce the damage caused by e-waste to the environment.

Samsung Electronics Turkey launched the “E-waste Collection Campaign” to contribute to the sustainable future. With the campaign, which will last until the end of the year, users will win a gift certificate of up to 3 thousand TL if they give their old electronic devices for recycling when receiving a new Samsung TV or white goods.