Study Reveals the U.S. Produces the Most E-scrap Per Person

A new study funded by the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) and completed by Harokopio University of Athens includes data on the global generation of used and end-of-life electronics. The study, “Statistics on the national arisings of e-scrap and the movement of e-scrap between countries,” reveals that the U.S. produces the most e-scrap per person and that Asia generates the most volume of e-waste.

The study breaks down e-scrap generation in 2016 by region and includes a variety of e-scrap types, such as white goods and other electrical equipment. In 2016, the global generation of e-scrap included 6.7 million metric tons of ICT equipment (PCs, laptops, mobile phones, telephones, etc.) and 4.2 million metric tons of consumer electronics (TVs, video cameras, etc.).

Resource Recycling has more information:

Researchers have compiled data on the global generation of used and end-of-life electronics, with an eye toward determining what the future e-scrap landscape will look like.

The study, titled “Statistics on the national arisings of e-scrap and the movement of e-scrap between countries,” was funded by the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) and completed by Harokopio University of Athens.

Its goal, according to the authors, is to highlight “the challenges and opportunities related to e-scrap, providing a baseline for the recycling industry and policymakers to plan effective actions” for increased e-scrap recovery.

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