"In 2022, the world generated a record 62 million tonnes of e-waste—an amount that would fill 1.55 million 40-tonne trucks, enough to wrap around the equator—according to the Global E-Waste Monitor 2024, a new report from the United Nations. (That’s up from 53.6 million tonnes in 2019, per the last UN report.) And that waste is expected to keep growing: It’s rising globally by 2.6 million tonnes a year."
"The U.N. says 22% of the e-waste mass was properly collected and recycled in 2022. It is expected to fall to 20% by the end of the decade because of “staggering growth” of such waste due to higher consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles, growing “electronification” of society, and inadequate e-waste management infrastructure, the agencies said." https://apnews.com/article/electronic-waste-kenya-united-nations-ewaste-environment-e37667e5a6b08fe8ef161d386eb3404d
Even when we recycle we only get back about 30% reusable materials, so the true recycling rate is 5%
"Recycling" is a euphemism for greenwashing. Change my mind.
The above is another great article showing the same thing. Recycling has never worked and relying on it is a fools game.
If systems were dramatically changed it could certainly play an important part in moving us towards sustainability, but it cannot work under the current capitalist system that prioritizes profits; recycling is simply too expensive when externalities are ignored, as they always are.
The Right-To-Repair laws should be a start in making a dent in e-waste. Also the EU mandate that all things should be compatibly connectable with all the accessories. We at least don't have to buy a new charger with every new phone.
Now to curb planned obsolescence.
I would love to keep the box and upgrade only the boards and other parts, and only if I really have to.
What getting rid of planned obsolescence (& most e-waste) could look like:
I keep my phone / laptop forevah (a car's body rusts, a phone's doesn't), for 30 years.*
– Phone / laptop makers must maintain OS security for 30 years.
– New devices / software must be back-compatible for 30 years.
– Boards, batteries, other parts can be upgraded by swapping in.
*30 yrs: like the way a person needs three bikes in their lifetime, or (in the old days) three horses.