UNCTAD Report Alerts on Alarming Surge in Electronic Waste

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The most recent report published by the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) points to alarming growth in global generation of electronic waste.

According to the report, the generation of electronic waste from screens, computers, and small IT and telecommunication equipment (SCSIT) reported huge growth during the period from 2010 to 2022.

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The leading electronic waste generator was India, with e-waste generation in the country registering tremendous growth by more than 163% growth over the mentioned period. The country’s share in global generation of SCSIT waste more than doubled from 3.1% in 2010 to 6.4% in 2022. In 2022, developing countries in the Asian region accounted for majority of such waste, with China being responsible for nearly half of it.

The UNCTAD report cited that a significant portion of waste generated from digitalisation is managed in informal settings. This results in damaging impacts on the environment and human health, the report noted.

The report acknowledged India’s ongoing efforts to minimize the impact of product packaging and waste.

Apart from India, the other leading generators of SCSIT waste include China, Russian Federation, Brazil and the U.S.