Table of contents:
What is e-waste?

Fact No. 1 - This is how much e-waste is produced per person per year.

Fact No. 2 - This e-waste makes up the majority

Fact No. 3 -The recycling rates of e-waste

Fact No. 4 -Vital resources are found in old electronic equipment

Fact No. 5 - Here's what's happening with regulations

What is e-waste?

E-waste refers to electronically operated products that have been disposed of after use. According to the Stiftung Elektro-Altgeräte Register (EAR), products that fulfil one or more of the following conditions count as WEEE: The products are designed to operate on AC voltage of 1,000 volts or less or DC voltage of 1,500 volts or less; they are subject to electronic currents or electromagnetic fields when properly operated; and they are used to generate, transmit and measure such currents and fields.

Fact No. 1 -This is how much e-waste is generated per year per person

In the European Union, a total of 4 million tonnes of e-waste was generated in 2018 - that's an average of 8.9 kilograms per inhabitant. Sweden, France and Germany make up the top three positions, generating 14.2 to 10.3 kilograms per inhabitant.

Fact No. 2 - This e-waste makes up the majority

Electrical and electronic waste can be divided into different categories, a common subdivision is the distinction between large household appliances, consumer electronics devices and photovoltaic modules, IT and telecommunication devices, small household appliances and others. 52.7 percent of the electrical and electronic waste can be assigned to the category of large household appliances, which can be, for example, refrigerators, washing machines or electric cookers.

Fact No. 3 - The recycling rates of e-waste

Of all the e-waste generated in the European Union, only 42.5 percent was recycled in 2020, resulting in the loss of important resources. The recycling rate varies greatly from country to country. For example, the recycling rate in Malta is only 21 percent, but in Croatia it is 81 percent. However, this also shows the potential for the future of e-waste recycling in the European Union. Another aspect is that with electrical and electronic waste that ends up in landfills, there is a risk of hazardous substances escaping and ending up in the soil and water. This aspect in particular shows why recycling is so important.

Fact No. 4 -Vital resources are found in old electronic equipment

Electrical and electronic equipment often contains valuable resources that bring economic and environmental benefits when recovered. According to the European Commission, 18 out of 49 elements are at risk of being out of supply, which means that these important raw materials are at risk of not being available in sufficient quantities. Recovering these raw materials from WEEE can minimise shortages and greenhouse gases, as initial recovery often emits more CO2. An example of the potential of recovering important metals such as gold, nickel, copper or palladium from e-waste is that one tonne of disposed smartphones contains more gold than one tonne of gold ore!

Fact No. 5 - Here's what's happening with regulations

The ever-increasing pressure on actors and the importance of taking action against climate change is also reflected by the fact that in recent years more and more countries have introduced laws and regulations to deal with e-waste. In 2014, 61 countries had regulations on e-waste and in 2019, 78 countries had regulations on e-waste. This covers 71 per cent of the world's population and highlights the importance of EEE retailers and distributors becoming compliant in order to further increase recycling rates and thus reduce the burden on the environment.