The UN reports an average production of 57.4 million tons of e-waste annually, with only 17.4% being recycled. As rapid digital growth shortens electronics’ lifespans, the urgency to address the mountain of e-waste escalates. International E-Waste Day (14 October 2024), highlights this crisis and aims to halt the cycle of e-waste ending up in landfill. This year’s theme, “Join the e-waste hunt – retrieve, recycle and revive,” stresses the importance of properly managing e-waste to recover valuable materials from unused electronics that could gain a new life.

E-waste includes anything with a plug, cable, or battery, but the most often forgotten items are small electronics: old mobile phones, cables, game consoles, and other devices that are often kept out of sight in drawers. This year’s theme aims to inspire people to clear out those unused or broken devices. This can be at home or at work. By doing so, everyone can contribute to conserving resources and reducing pollution.

Many discarded electronic devices, from smartphones to refrigerators, contain harmful substances like lead and mercury, alongside precious materials such as gold and silver.

In the UK alone, 103,000 tonnes of electricals are thrown away each year. By reusing 75% of the materials found in electronics, we have the potential to repurpose them into various new products, from solar panels to life-saving medical devices. Lithium batteries are another major concern and can be found throughout the homes and offices in various devices. Essentially, any rechargeable portable electronic device is likely to use a lithium battery, including laptops, digital cameras, vapes and even some electric vehicles.

Recycling lithium batteries is critical, not only for reclaiming valuable materials, but for mitigating the environmental risks they pose due to their toxic and reactive elements. Lithium batteries have been increasingly involved in waste fires, with 338 fires in the UK attributed to e-bikes and e-scooters in 2023.

Businesses need to segregate e-waste to avoid contamination and comply with hazardous waste legislation to avoid facing potential fines. Registered waste carriers, such as Grundon, know how to safely take care of hazardous waste and keep the necessary paperwork in order. We can also provide training to ensure your staff understand proper handling and emergency protocols for hazardous waste.

For businesses looking to navigate the complexities of e-waste disposal, Grundon provides expert hazardous waste services, helping you minimise your environmental impact by safely recycling and repurposing valuable materials at our state-of-the-art recycling facilities.

For small quantities of electronic waste, we provide a bespoke haz-box service. Grundon’s compact Haz-Box fits easily in small spaces for safe storage of hazardous items, guaranteeing 100% compliance with all relevant waste legislation. When the Haz-Box is full, simply give us a call and we’ll come to collect it.

By taking these steps this International E-Waste Day, we can make a significant impact on reducing e-waste and preserving our planet for future generations.