The world could have 75 million metric tonnes of e-waste by 2030. Here’s how we can avoid it

E-waste tends to contain harmful chemicals that can leach onto the environment. Changing the way we consume is at the heart of the solution.

E-waste (representational image) | Flickr

• The world is predicted to produce 75 million metric tonnes of e-waste by 2030.
• It’s often considered cheaper to replace a product rather than repair it.
• As awareness increases free repair cafes and government incentives are popping up across the globe.
• People are being offered up to €100 ($113) to repair a product rather than replace it.

How many old mobile phones do you have in a drawer in your house?

Many of us have become accustomed to hoarding or discarding old electrical products instead of repairing them, creating a mountain of electronic waste that’s growing by the day.

Global electrical waste (e-waste) is set to grow to 75 million metric tonnes by 2030 according to the United Nations Global E-waste Monitor report. That’s concerning, not least because many of the products we’ve discarded could be reused, reducing the need to produce more, but also because e-waste tends to contain harmful chemicals that can leach into the environment.

The volume of e-waste generated worldwide is forecast to keep growing.

Image: Statista

Cutting back on what we get rid of is beneficial for the environment. A TV used for 13 years instead of six saves around 660kg of greenhouse gases, according to a study by Oeko-Institut in Germany. Using smartphones for seven years instead of two and a half saves around 100kg of greenhouse gases.

Changing the way we consume is at the heart of the solution, according to the World Economic Forum and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. A circular vision for the e-waste sector will promote the elimination of waste and could yield up to $4.5 trillion in economic benefits by 2030.

The good news is that emerging incentives, trends and laws are making it easier for consumers to repair their products. Here are a few examples:

Repair bonuses

One barrier to repair can be the cost compared with buying a new product. This year Austria and the German state of Thuringia introduced a publicly financed repair bonus to reimburse consumers for part of their costs.

Up to €100 per person is available under the bonus scheme if you have a defective electrical device repaired instead of opting for disposal. Thuringia introduced the programme in June and had run out of funds by October due to its popularity.

In many Austrian regions, the funds are kept within the local repair ecosystem to strengthen local businesses.

“Those who take good care of their defective devices will be rewarded,” says Thuringia’s Environment Minister Anja Siegesmund.

Also read: India sees small rise in forest & tree cover, but 1,020 sq. km of deforestation in Northeast

Repair cafes

Repair cafes are cropping up worldwide, designed to encourage consumers to bring in their products. Run by volunteers, the free cafes offer help with repairs and the maintenance of broken or faulty items.

With thousands of cafes worldwide, they are particularly popular in Belgium which has almost 2,000. The cafes can also assist with modifications such as improving the fit and appearance of clothing.

Right to repair laws

Several countries are working to introduce laws that encourage consumers to repair and reuse.

The European Union (EU) introduced several initiatives, including the Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, Energy-related Products (ErP) Directive and the Ecodesign Directive to lower resource consumption and environmental impact.

France passed the Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy Act (AGEC) in 2020. Since January 2021, some French businesses have had to display a repairability score which gives a grade out of ten – ten deemed the most repairable. The law applies to smartphones, laptops, televisions, washing machines and lawnmowers.

The Repairability Index displays a score with different colour variations to make it easier for consumers to note if a product has a good score (green) or a bad score (red).

Technology companies are also beginning to work repairability into their design process as consumers look for products that will last longer.

In November, Apple unveiled a Self Service Repair initiative that gives customers access to iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 parts and tools. The service will expand to include parts for Apple Macs featuring M1 chips next year and will be available in the US first, followed by additional countries throughout 2022.

This article was originally published on the World Economic Forum.