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Improving Global E-waste Data

ITU-D has launched a series of Global, Regional, and National E-waste Monitors aiming to improve regional e-waste data for policymakers, industries, and businesses, and inform relevant stakeholders as well as the general public about the e-waste challenge in the region.

Most recently, the National E-waste Monitors for Botswana and Namibia were launched earlier this year. The Regional E-waste Monitors for CIS + Georgia (2021), Arab States (2021), Latin America (2022) and Western Balkans (2023) are also available here.

The Regional Monitors contribute to the development of internationally comparable e-waste statistics at the national and regional levels, facilitating the monitoring of e-waste developments over time and assisting countries in producing more accurate e-waste statistics.

The Monitors seek to map key e-waste stakeholders, assess the status of e-waste legislation, and identify recycling opportunities. The research also examines the transboundary movement of e-waste, estimating import and export quantities, and providing an overview of relevant legislation and policies. They are produced by the Global E-waste Statistics Partnership, a collaboration between ITU and UNITAR.

As part of this research process, focal points from National Statistical Offices in countries covered by the Monitors are trained to generate e-waste data, which in turn, supports the monitoring of the national recycling rate (Sustainable Development Goal 12.5.1).

Collecting Global E-waste Data

The 2024 edition of the Global E-waste Monitor, recently launched by ITU together with UNITAR SYCLE and Fondation Carmignac, provides the most up-to-date overview of global e-waste data and policy and regulation.

It reports that 62 million tonnes of e-waste is generated annually, yet only 22% is recycled, leaving USD 62 billion worth of recoverable natural resources unaccounted for and increasing pollution risks to communities worldwide.

In 2030, the global generation of e-waste is expected to reach 82 million tonnes. The report highlights that if e-waste collection and recycling rates increase to 60% by the same time, the economic benefits – including minimizing human health risks – could exceed over USD 38 billion.

“The Global E-waste Monitor is the world’s foremost source of data allowing us to track progress over time and to make critical decisions when it comes to transitioning to a circular economy for electronics,” said Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau. “The latest research shows that the global challenge posed by e-waste is only going to grow. With less than half of the world implementing and enforcing approaches to manage the e-waste problem, this raises the alarm for sound regulations to boost collection and recycling.”

ITU provides policy and regulatory development assistance to help Member States to balance their economic and social development with their environmental management. Learn more about ITU’s work in this space here.

This is an ITU Development #DigitalImpactUnlocked story