UN experts estimated the scale of the world electronic waste
About 45 million tonnes of mobile phones, computers, laptops and all kinds of gadgets, cameras, batteries, electronic toys, TV sets, refrigerators and other household appliances have been wasted by the population of the Earth in 2016.
This electronic garbage is enough to load 1.23 million freight trailers and build them in a double chain from New York to Bangkok. The mass of 44.7 million tons is equivalent to the mass of 4,5 thousand Eiffel Towers, says "The Global E-Waste Monitor 2017" report, released by International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations University (UNU) and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA).
The international community has voiced concern over the fact that wasted devises pose a threat to the safety of the environment and, above all, to human health. After all, most of the electronic trash is classified as highly hazardous waste, because of toxic content, such as lead, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, polyvinyl chloride.
At the same time, the recycling of electronic waste can earn an income equal to the GDP of most countries in the world. So, last year, gold, silver, copper, platinum and other valuable metals, worth over US $ 55 billion were dumped along with the old equipment.
The average worldwide per capita e-waste generated was 6.1 kilograms, up 5% from 5.8 kg in 2014. Norway is leading with 28.5 kg per capita. The highest indicators are in Australia (17.3 kg) and New Zealand (17.3 kg).
The Europe copes successfully with utilization, with processing rate up to 35% from 12.3 million of e-waste.
UN experts call countries to take immediate efforts for adequate recycling. Otherwise, with such trend, by 2021 the volume of electronic waste will increase further by 17% to 52.2 million tonnes.
