US$ 20.25 billion e-waste market by 2016 – report

Global – According to a new report, total revenues from the e-waste management market are expected to reach US$ 20.25 billion by 2016, giving an average year-on-year growth of 17.22% in the interim.

The volume of e-waste generated is expected to amount to 93.5 million tonnes in 2016 compared to 41.5 million tonnes in 2011, equivalent to year-on-year growth of 17.6%.

According to US market research and consulting company MarketsandMarkets, the past decade has witnessed a steep growth rate for the volume of e-waste. In its study entitled ‘Global E-Waste Management Market (2011-2016)’, the company suggests that revenue from the e-waste management market is on course to total some US$ 9.15 billion in 2011.

Studies indicate that around eight out of ten computers disposed of in the USA are sent to developing countries, particularly in Asia and Africa. This trend can be attributed to the lack of appropriate domestic recycling facilities for some types of materials in the USA, according to the report.