U.N. agencies have warned that waste from electronics is piling up worldwide while recycling rates remain low and are likely to fall even further.

The agencies were referring to “e-waste,” which is defined as discarded devices with a plug or battery, including cellphones, electronic toys, TVs, microwave ovens, e-cigarettes, laptop computers and solar panels. It does not include waste from electronic vehicles, which fall into a separate category.

In a report released Wednesday, the U.N.’s International Telecommunications Union and research arm UNITAR said some 62 million tons of “e-waste” was generated in 2022, enough to fill tractor-trailers that could be lined up bumper to bumper around the globe. It’s on track to reach 82 million tons by 2030.

Metals — including copper, gold and iron — made up half of the 62 million tons, worth a total of some $91 billion, the report said. Plastics accounted for 17 million tons and the remaining 14 million tons include substances like composite materials and glass.

  • AggressivelyPassive@feddit.de
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    9 months ago

    And shit like MS randomly deciding to essentially brick millions of devices for no reason doesn’t exactly help the issue.

    There needs to be a guarantee for updates. And especially developers need to get their shit together and not bloating every shitty little app to a monster.

    Teams alone, while being idle in the background, consumes more RAM than my 2004 laptop had installed - and I ran GTA, ICQ, MSN and iTunes simultaneously on that thing.