In 2021, the projection of the International Telecommunication Union, under the aegis of the United Nations, relied on global waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) of 52.2 million tonnes. Missed. The record of 53.6 million was reached in 2019, according to the E-waste monitor. Plus 9.2 million additional tonnes in five years!
There is worse in this annual report. WEEE (computers, laptops, batteries, household appliances, etc.) is still too little collected and recycled around the world: only 17.4% has passed into the hands of an approved body!
Is this serious doctor?
Yes. Because many of this waste contains dangerous substances, such as mercury (in decline), brominated flame retardants (RFB) or chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). If they often rest in our cupboards, they also release in our floors. Smartphone batteries, for example, also contain rare metals, such as lithium. They recycle very well, despite the complexity of the alloys
, note Accurec, the German industry champion. The less they are collected, the more it will be necessary to draw on the resources of a planet in the process of exhaustion: the extraction of raw materials has quadrupled in recent decades, with 22 billion tons in 1970, against 85 billion tons currently.
A stammering recycling
The number of countries around the world that have adopted a national e-waste policy, legislation or regulation increased from 61 to 78 between 2014 and 2019, the UN says. The world organization is pushing for half of its member states (97 countries) to join the compulsory recycling clan by 2023 and aim for 30% of WEEE recycled by the same horizon.
The European Union is not a bad student. Its guidelines have prompted member countries to create eco-organizations. The sector dates back to fifteen years and the figures for collection, recycling or reuse are increasing every year, in connection with the social and solidarity economy.
, assures Nathalie Yserd, Deputy Director of Ecosystem France.In 2019, we put 574,300 old devices back on the market.
For cells and batteries, the French organization Corepile, poster a collection rate of 48.8%
, details Jeanne Lepeintre, Director of Marketing.
Should we expect the worst?
Yes. Electronics merchants rub shoulders hands with the arrival of 5G, starting with Apple, which pushes most of the media to confuse information and advertising for a product ?. Even the European Pirate Party, which has nothing against technology but denounces consumerism, admits that it will be necessary to renew part of the computer park, and some smartphones. The UN report, which forecasts 74 million tonnes of electronic waste by 2030, is arguably optimistic.
And at best?
Also. In the United States, where 150 million “old-fashioned” cell phones go scrapped each year, the P4C Global organization repairs and resells them, or even offers them to the most vulnerable, via a foundation imagined by Steve Hopwood. In France, Ecosystem received 20,000 phones
since March, thanks to its initiative jedonnemontelephone.fr, put back on the market in partnership with the Emmaus workshops.
In end of many countries have laws against too short life cycles and limited repair options for electronic objects. In France, in January 2021, five categories of products – washing machine, mower, television, laptop and mobile phone – will have to display their degree of repairability. Notice to consumers who want to enlighten …
For this international electronic waste day, this Wednesday, October 14, Ecosystem, as well as eco-organizations from 48 countries, is engaged in awareness-raising operations. Targeted audience ? The young generation who always want the latest trendy smartphone. In order to limit the number of old geeks later …
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