The surge in e-waste over the past decade is having alarming effects on our environment, especially in developing countries. According to the United Nations, humans generated over 53.6 million metric tons of e-waste in 2019, a number that is estimated to increase to 74 million tons per year by 2030.
So where does it all go? A small percentage, is recycled - 9.4% in the Americas, 42.5% in Europe and 11.7% in Asia. But you may be surprised to learn that the majority ends up in developing countries. Companies or unscrupulous "recycling" operations export — often illegally — large amounts of e-waste containing toxic materials to landfills in these nations, at the cost of hazardous conditions to their citizens.
Operating an environmentally responsible IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) program helps reduce your impact on the environment and preserves natural resources. If that’s not enough to motivate you to think about your e-waste and IT asset disposal practices, here are some startling statistics on the impact of e-waste.
Environmentally Responsible IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) Infographic
Download a high resolution copy of our ITAD infographic
