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Circular Electronics Day sparks action for a more sustainable tech future
Global?e-waste levels continue to rise, posing serious challenges to human health and the environment.
Observed annually on 24 January, Circular Electronics Day raises awareness about this escalating crisis and promotes sustainable practices such as more sustainable production, extending product lifespans, repairing, buying second-hand, and recycling responsibly. This initiative empowers both consumers and businesses to take action.
Each year, millions of electronic devices are discarded due to breakage, obsolescence, or simply convenience. By 2030, it is estimated that 82 billion kg of e-waste will be generated annually. As the fastest-growing solid waste stream globally, e-waste presents increasing challenges for both human health and the environment, highlighting the importance of Circular Electronics Day (#CircularElectronicsDay).
Circular Electronics Day is a global initiative that underscores the environmental and social impacts of e-waste and champions sustainable practices in the production, use, and recycling of electronics.
"From smartphones and laptops to countless other devices – electronics are integral to our daily lives. Yet, we often dispose of them long before necessary. Treating these items as disposable exacerbates the global e-waste problem," says Andreas Nobell from TCO Development , a founding member of the Circular Electronics Initiative, the organisation behind Circular Electronics Day. "Circular Electronics Day urges us to adopt smarter, more sustainable solutions to reduce waste and prolong the usage of our devices. Every small step counts."
The UK’s first sustainable electronics centre
A new ￡5.5 million initiative aims to position Scotland's Central Belt as a global leader in?sustainable electronics?manufacturing and design.
The REACT Centre: Responsible Electronics And Circular Technologies is part of a broader ￡25 million investment from UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Accelerating the Green Economy programme, with five centres across the UK sharing the funding.
This initiative is a component of UKRI’s Building a Green Future strategy, designed to accelerate the green economy by fostering research and innovation that are critical to achieving the UK's net-zero target by 2050. It is one of five strategic themes from UKRI aimed at addressing complex, large-scale challenges through the power of the UK’s research and innovation system.
REACT will be the UK’s first centre dedicated to sustainable electronics, with a focus on advancing net-zero electronics by tackling both environmental and economic issues. Through collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers, the centre will promote the adoption of green technologies in the electronics sector.
￡13.7M worth of e-waste generated by 3G switch-off
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The 3G switch-off on O2’s network is expected to affect approximately 4.3 million[1] people across the UK. As a result, this could generate an enormous 70,516 kilograms of e-waste, roughly the same weight as 5.9 double-decker buses. And the materials from scrapping these old phones could be worth a staggering ￡13,769,488.?
Copper is the most abundant metal found in our devices with 68,800 kilograms being generated from 4.3 million old devices, worth a total of ￡509,808. Silver falls in second place with a total of 1,505 kilograms generated at a value of ￡1,223,535.
However, the most valuable metal is gold. While 146 kilograms can be retrieved from these old phones, its huge market price means it could be worth an enormous ￡10,397,184.
Lastly, palladium within phones will generate 65 kilograms of waste, valued at ￡1,638,961.
What is the switch off?
O2 will be switching off its 3G network starting in April 2025. The switch-off will begin in the Durham area before moving across the UK. While other networks such as Vodafone and EE have already switched off their networks, O2’s is significant due to the large number of customers it affects.
UK lags behind other European nations in e-waste recycling
The UK is falling far behind other European nations in recycling e-waste, despite the growing scarcity of vital components, high carbon footprint, and health impact caused by waste electronics.
According to data from the UN’s Global E-Waste Monitor, just 30% of the 1.652 billion kg of e-waste generated by the UK is recycled. For comparison, Norway recycles nearly 74% of the e-waste it creates, while Holland responsibly tackles 59% of throwaway electronics.
“These figures are incredibly disappointing for a developed nation like the UK,” says Emma Armstrong, Sustainable Electronics Ambassador at In2tec.
“Throwaway electronics have a devastating ecological impact, ruin the health of waste pickers in developing countries, and waste rare earth elements like gold, aluminium, copper, and steel – and none of this is necessary.
“There is a solution to e-waste that combines economic and environmental viability – permitting the reuse, repair, and refurbishment of electronics.
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