Facts on E-Waste:
- E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world, increasing three times faster than the world’s population.
- Rapidly advancing technologies, rising consumer demand for electronics, and shorter product life cycles have contributed to this growth.
- Only 17.4% of e-waste is recycled globally, leading to environmental and health issues.
- The improper management of e-waste has resulted in a loss of at least US$57 billion annually through the disposal of critical raw materials, such as iron, copper, and gold.
- Most e-waste ends up in landfills or is informally recycled, often by hand, in developing countries, posing severe environmental and health risks.