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| E-waste: Five billion phones to be thrown away in 2022 | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Less than 20% of electronic waste is recycled, experts say | Less than 20% of electronic waste is recycled, experts say |
| This year, 5.3 billion mobile phones will be thrown away the international waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) forum says. | |
| Its estimate, based on global trade data, highlights the growing environmental problem of "e-waste". | Its estimate, based on global trade data, highlights the growing environmental problem of "e-waste". |
| Many people keep old phones, rather than recycling them, research suggests. | Many people keep old phones, rather than recycling them, research suggests. |
| Precious minerals not extracted from waste electronics, such as the copper in wire or the cobalt in rechargeable batteries, have to be mined. | Precious minerals not extracted from waste electronics, such as the copper in wire or the cobalt in rechargeable batteries, have to be mined. |
| Mine e-waste, not the Earth, say scientists | Mine e-waste, not the Earth, say scientists |
| Millions of old gadgets 'stockpiled in drawers' | Millions of old gadgets 'stockpiled in drawers' |
| "People tend not to realise that all these seemingly insignificant items have a lot of value and together at a global level represent massive volumes," WEEE director general Pascal Leroy said. | "People tend not to realise that all these seemingly insignificant items have a lot of value and together at a global level represent massive volumes," WEEE director general Pascal Leroy said. |
| There are an estimated 16 billion mobile phones worldwide - and in Europe, almost a third are no longer in use. | There are an estimated 16 billion mobile phones worldwide - and in Europe, almost a third are no longer in use. |
| The WEEE says its research shows the "mountain" of electrical and electronic waste - from washing machines and toasters to tablet computers and global positioning system (GPS) devices - will grow to 74 million tonnes a year by 2030. | |
| Earlier this year, the Royal Society of Chemistry launched a campaign promoting the mining of e-waste to produce new products, highlighting global conflict, including the war in Ukraine, threatens precious-metal supply chains. | Earlier this year, the Royal Society of Chemistry launched a campaign promoting the mining of e-waste to produce new products, highlighting global conflict, including the war in Ukraine, threatens precious-metal supply chains. |
| Magdalena Charytanowicz, of the WEEE, said: "These devices offer many important resources that can be used in the production of new electronic devices or other equipment, such as wind turbines, electric car batteries or solar panels - all crucial for the green, digital transition to low-carbon societies." | Magdalena Charytanowicz, of the WEEE, said: "These devices offer many important resources that can be used in the production of new electronic devices or other equipment, such as wind turbines, electric car batteries or solar panels - all crucial for the green, digital transition to low-carbon societies." |
| Precious elements not extracted from waste have to be mined - at great environmental cost | Precious elements not extracted from waste have to be mined - at great environmental cost |
| Just over 17% of the world's e-waste is properly recycled - but the United Nations International Telecommunication Union has set a target to raise that to 30% by next year. | Just over 17% of the world's e-waste is properly recycled - but the United Nations International Telecommunication Union has set a target to raise that to 30% by next year. |
| It highlights it is one of the "fastest growing and most complex waste streams that affects both human health and the environment, as it can contain harmful substances". | It highlights it is one of the "fastest growing and most complex waste streams that affects both human health and the environment, as it can contain harmful substances". |
| In the UK, more than million unused but working electrical items, worth as much as possible £5.63 billion, are currently hoarded in UK homes, surveys by the organisation Material Focus suggest. | In the UK, more than million unused but working electrical items, worth as much as possible £5.63 billion, are currently hoarded in UK homes, surveys by the organisation Material Focus suggest. |
| It also calculated that the average UK household could sell unwanted tech and raise about £200. | It also calculated that the average UK household could sell unwanted tech and raise about £200. |
| The organisation's online campaign provides tips, including where to find recycling centres. | The organisation's online campaign provides tips, including where to find recycling centres. |
| Mr Leroy said much more could be done. | Mr Leroy said much more could be done. |
| "Providing collection boxes in supermarkets, pick-up of small broken appliances upon delivery of new ones and offering PO [post-office] boxes to return small e-waste are just some of the initiatives introduced to encourage the return of these items," he said. | "Providing collection boxes in supermarkets, pick-up of small broken appliances upon delivery of new ones and offering PO [post-office] boxes to return small e-waste are just some of the initiatives introduced to encourage the return of these items," he said. |