Call for more e-waste collection to raise CRM recovery

The eighth edition of International E-Waste Day on 14 October will spotlight critical raw materials (CRMs), elements that are mined in only a handful of countries and are crucial for the green and digital transition. Geopolitics are highlighting how important these materials are.

‘As demand for smart phones, electric vehicles, solar panels and other technology continues to surge, so does the need for the materials that make them work,’ says WEEE Forum.  ‘While many people have heard about CRMs by now, not all of them know that these elements can be recovered from unused or broken electronic products sleeping in our drawers and attics. International E-Waste Day will focus on raising awareness about this fact.’

Higher collection volumes

In Europe, 10% of annual CRM consumption must be sourced domestically by 2030, 40% processed within the EU with 25% coming from recycling. ‘This last goal cannot be reached without higher volumes of e-waste being collected and more specialised technology being developed,’ WEEE Forum argues.

Household hoarding 

Legislation and technology will not be of much help, unless consumers bring their end-of-use electronics to dedicated collection points. A study of WEEE Forum and UNITAR  showed that households own an average of 74 EEE items (excluding lamps and luminaires), of which 61 items are in use, nine are hoarded but working, and four are hoarded and not working. The total mass of items in households is 90 million tonnes.

‘Most people have old phones, laptops, chargers or other electronic items sitting forgotten in drawers. By returning these items through official collection channels, consumers play a direct role in keeping critical resources in the loop and supporting the circular economy.’