Electronic waste (or e-Waste) is one of the biggest environmental problems we’re facing today. With today’s ever-evolving tech innovations, the only certainty is that nothing will stay the same.
According to a UN Report, a record 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-Waste is reported generated worldwide in 2019 – up 21% in five years. To put it into perspective, that’s the weight of 350 cruise ships the size of the Queen Mary 2. And more so, the report found that only 17.4% of 2019’s e-waste was formally collected and recycled, leaving more than 82% of it essentially unaccounted for.
Do you really know what happens to your e-Waste after it leaves the safety of your hands? What happens to your information on those data-storing devices? And have you ever wondered where your e-Waste really ends up?
Not only is it a health and environmental hazard if disposed of incorrectly, e-Waste typically contains a lot of confidential and private information left on the retired computer, server, laptop or mobile phone. Hence why these items should be disposed of safely, securely and responsibly and never discarded in general or kerbside waste.