Global E-waste Monitor 2024

Global E-waste Monitor

Comprehensive analysis of global electronic waste generation, collection, recycling rates, and material recovery based on the 2024 report by UNITAR and ITU.

Data Year: 2022
Total E-waste Generated
62 billion kg
↑ 82% since 2010
Formally Recycled
22.3%
13.8 billion kg collected
Improperly Disposed
14 billion kg
In residual waste bins
Metals in E-waste
31 billion kg
$91B potential value
Per Capita
7.8 kg/person
Global average
2030 Projection
82 billion kg
↑ 32% increase

E-waste Generation vs Collection (2010-2030)

Growth in e-waste generation is outpacing formal recycling by a factor of 5

Generation & Recycling Trend
E-waste Fate in 2022
2010 34B kg
2015 44B kg
2020 54B kg
2022 62B kg
2025proj 69B kg
2030proj 82B kg

⚠️ Key Challenge

Since 2010, e-waste generation has grown by an average of 2.3 billion kg per year, while formal collection has only increased by 0.5 billion kg per year. At this rate, the global collection rate will decline to just 20% by 2030.

E-waste by Equipment Category

Breakdown of 62 billion kg generated in 2022

View:
E-waste by Category (billion kg)
Collection & Recycling Rates
Small Equipment
Large Equipment
Temp. Exchange
Screens/Monitors
Small IT/Telecom
Lamps
PV Panels

♻️ Recycling Insights

Highest Recycling Rates
  • Large Equipment: 34% — easier to collect due to size
  • Temp. Exchange: 27% — often picked up at delivery
  • Screens/Monitors: 25% — valuable components
Lowest Recycling Rates
  • Lamps: 5% — small size, often in household bins
  • Small Equipment: 12% — hoarded or discarded improperly
  • PV Panels: 17% — recycling tech still developing

Regional E-waste Statistics

Generation and collection rates by world region (2022)

E-waste Generated by Region (billion kg)
Per Capita Generation (kg/person)
Asia
E-waste Generated 30.1B kg
Per Capita 6.4 kg
Collection Rate 11.8%
Americas
E-waste Generated 14.4B kg
Per Capita 14.1 kg
Collection Rate 30%
Europe
E-waste Generated 13.1B kg
Per Capita 17.6 kg
Collection Rate 42.8%
Africa
E-waste Generated 3.6B kg
Per Capita 2.5 kg
Collection Rate 0.7%
Oceania
E-waste Generated 0.7B kg
Per Capita 16.1 kg
Collection Rate 41.4%

🌍 Regional Disparities

Europe leads with a 42.8% collection rate (Western Europe reaches 58.4%), while Africa has only 0.7% formal collection. High-income countries generate the most e-waste per capita but also have better infrastructure for collection. The US alone generates 7.2 billion kg (21 kg per capita).

Material Composition & Recovery

Valuable resources contained in global e-waste

E-waste Composition (62B kg total)
Metal Value in E-waste ($91B total)

💰 Economic Opportunity

Key Metals by Mass
  • Iron/Steel: 24 billion kg (60% recovery)
  • Aluminum: 3.9 billion kg
  • Copper: 2.1 billion kg ($19B value)
  • Cobalt: 34 million kg (critical material)
Precious Metals
  • Gold: 270 thousand kg ($15B value)
  • Silver: 1.2 million kg
  • Palladium: 121 thousand kg ($8B value)
  • Only 20% of precious metals recovered

☠️ Hazardous Substances Released

Due to non-compliant e-waste management, 58 thousand kg of mercury and 45 million kg of plastics containing brominated flame retardants are released into the environment every year, causing severe health and environmental impacts.

Scenarios for 2030

Three pathways for global e-waste management

Business as Usual
Collection Rate 20%
Formally Collected 16B kg
Economic Impact -$40B
Mercury Released 46K kg
Progressive
Collection Rate 38%
Formally Collected 31B kg
Economic Impact ~$0
Improvement Significant
Aspirational
Collection Rate 60%
Formally Collected 49B kg
Economic Impact +$38B
Status Net Positive

🎯 Path to Success

Achieving the aspirational scenario requires: universal e-waste legislation with EPR, expanded collection infrastructure, investment in recycling technology for critical materials, and consumer awareness. Currently only 81 countries have e-waste legislation covering 71% of the global population.

Source: Global E-waste Monitor 2024, published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

Methodology: E-waste generation is calculated using the sales-lifespan method, tracking EEE placed on market and average product lifespans. Collection rates are based on documented formal recycling reported by countries with e-waste legislation.

Citation: Baldé, C.P., Kuehr, R., Yamamoto, T., et al. (2024). Global E-waste Monitor 2024. Geneva/Bonn: ITU/UNITAR.