The United Nations warns of the dangers of electronic waste.
(06/05/2025 - Views: 8)
The latest report from the United Nations shows that the amount of electronic waste worldwide is constantly increasing, estimated to be equivalent to 200 Empire State Buildings over 100 stories high in the US by 2017.
According to the data collected from United Nations agencies and governments worldwide, the amount of global electronic waste has been steadily increasing in recent years.Specifically, in 2012, the global electronic waste reached nearly 54 million tons. It is estimated that by 2017, this number will increase by about 33%, equivalent to 72 million tons of electronic waste being disposed of into the environment. This waste is 11 times heavier than the Giza Pyramids in Egypt.When electronic waste is released into the environment, it can cause chemical and heavy metal leakage into the air, soil, water, and food, acting as a time bomb for the Earth's survival. Live Science reports that China and the US are currently the top two countries in terms of producing electronic products and electronic waste generation. In 2012, China produced approximately 12.2 million tons of electronic products and devices, while the US produced around 11 million tons. In the same year, the US disposed of 10.4 million tons of electronic waste, and China disposed of 8 million tons.Projections suggest that electronic waste will continue to increase over the next 50 years, with the US and China remaining as the top two countries in terms of electronic waste generation.Electronic waste originates from products such as refrigerators, TVs, phones, computers, and other electronic devices. When released into the environment, they can cause chemical and heavy metal leakage into the air, soil, water, and food, posing a threat to the Earth's survival.To estimate the amount of this type of waste generated annually and to provide solutions to reduce its impact on the environment, scientists from the United Nations' "Solving the E-Waste Problem" (StEP) project have recently mapped global electronic waste. This interactive map provides data from 184 countries worldwide, estimating the types of electronic devices and products used, as well as the amount of electronic waste generated.The research group notes that establishing this map will assist governments and organizations worldwide in monitoring and limiting the impact of this waste on the environment.