We are throwing away a record 53.6 million metric tons of electronics

E-waste is the fastest-growing domestic waste stream in the world. In 2019, the world threw out the equivalent weight of 350 cruise ships’ worth of electronics.

Each year, people around the world buy more and more electronics—from smartphones and computers to refrigerators and air conditioners—and each year, more and more electronics get thrown away. In 2019, the world generated 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste, a record high and an increase of more than 20% compared to five years prior. Without proper recycling infrastructure and the option to repair electronics, e-waste will only increase, and in fact it’s currently the world’s fastest-growing domestic waste stream.

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