The extent of the e-waste issue: 1.55 million trucks lined up on the Equator!

According to the latest UN’s Global E-Waste Monitor, in 2022, 62 billion kg of e-waste were generated globally. This means 1.55 million trucks filled with e-waste lined up along the Earth's equator. The quantity of e-waste is expected to rise to 82 billion kg by 2030. Currently, the amount of e-waste is growing five times faster than formal recycling collection rates since 2010.

To help tackle this global problem, every year on October 14th, International E-Waste Day is celebrated. This awareness-raising event, initiated by the WEEE Forum and its members, aims to highlight the importance of the formal and responsible management of e-waste and the solutions available to each citizen within their community. Last year, 195 companies from 55 countries took part in the celebrations by organizing events, e-waste collections, social media, and press campaigns.

International E-Waste Day 2024: Join the E-Waste Hunt - Retrieve, Recycle, and Revive!

This year’s edition run under the slogan “Join the e-waste hunt - retrieve, recycle, and revive!” and focused on the unused electronics that people store in their homes without realising these items contain valuable materials that could gain a new life. E-waste includes anything with a plug, cable, or battery, but the most often ‘forgotten’ items are small electronics: old mobile phones, cables, USB keys, card readers, game consoles, and other devices that are often kept out of sight in drawers.

This year's edition aimed to inspire people to declutter their homes of unused or broken devices. By doing so, everyone can contribute to pollution reduction, resource conservation, and energy and CO2 savings.

This year 160 organizations from 47 countries officially registered, and countless more took part, organising diverse communication activities. More information on the impact of the campaign will be shared soon.