The facts about E-waste
Why is this an important issue?
- Only 17% of global e-waste is recycled responsibly.
- The rest often ends up in landfills or shipped abroad, causing environmental damage.
- Recycling your electronics protects the planet, recovers valuable resources, and reduces pollution.
Why is it dangerous?
- Devices also contain toxic substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium
- When dumped or burned, these chemicals can pollute our soil, water, and air.
- Improper disposal releases toxic fumes and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
The hidden value
- Electronics contain precious metals such as gold, copper, silver, and palladium
- Recycling helps recover these materials and reduces the need for destructive mining.
- One ton of discarded phones contains a higher concentration of gold than a ton of mined ore.