Business PickupClimate change is a complex issue with many contributing factors, an important one being greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While it may not generate as many GHG emissions as carbon giants like utilities, electronic waste (e-waste) is a concerning source of pollution and is increasingly contributing to global warming. In the coming years, it’s likely the impact of e-waste will grow much larger — unless we act quickly to turn it around. Here’s a closer look into the link between e-waste and climate change, and what we might do to address it.
How is e-waste contributing to climate change?
E-waste refers to any discarded electronics with batteries or plugs, such as computers or mobile phones. When these devices are discarded improperly, they often wind up in landfills, becoming a significant source of GHG emissions. Toxic chemicals such as heavy metals seep into the earth’s soil and water, becoming a direct source of pollution. When trash containing e-waste is burned, the chemicals released pollute the air.
Refrigerants found in temperature exchange equipment (such as cooling systems for server rooms) are especially dangerous, since these are direct sources of GHGs. From 2014 to 2020, GHG emissions from electronic devices and their waste increased 53%. By 2030, it’s estimated that 852 metric tonnes of CO2 compounds will be emitted from e-waste.
Besides releasing GHG emissions, e-waste also contributes to climate change in other, less immediate ways. When electronics are destroyed, for instance, it increases the demand for more. This leads to an increased need for energy and natural resources used during manufacture and transport of new devices.
Minimizing the environmental impact of e-waste
While there’s already been significant environmental damage created by e-waste, we still have an opportunity to prevent further damage from happening. It will take collaboration from several key parties to make a meaningful impact, but here are some key starting points.
First and foremost, extending the lifespan of electronics should be a topmost priority. Research shows that increasing the lifespan of electronics by 50-100% can mitigate up to half of GHG emissions. Of course, this calls for a thoughtful approach in the design and manufacture of electronics; manufacturers must prioritize source reduction, ability for repair, refurbishment, and reuse.
Increasing public awareness around e-waste recycling is also an important pursuit. While the UN notes that e-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world, there remains a lack of public awareness surrounding it. Less than 20% is formally recycled, but proper recycling could significantly reduce the impact of e-waste on climate change.
When businesses, municipalities, and consumers band together, IT devices can be refurbished to extend their lifespan, which not only prevents devices from winding up in landfills but also reduces the demand for new tech, the manufacturing of which further accelerates climate change. And even if devices are at the end of their lifespan and can’t be refurbished, proper recycling still prevents hazardous materials from winding up in landfills, since many can be extracted and reused.
Finally, lawmakers must enact policies and provide resources to enable proper e-waste recycling. Their goals should include holding manufacturers and other companies accountable for proper e-waste recycling practices, and designing and implementing effective e-waste recycling programs.
No matter how big or small, your proper handling of e-waste has a positive environmental impact. If you have end-of-life electronic devices to get rid of, explore Quantum’s solutions for e-waste recycling here.