Creating a Circular Economy for Electronic and Electrical Equipment

• As global connectivity grows, responsible innovation linked to environmental and circular goals is vital in digital technology's lifecycle. With an expanding digital society and more electronic devices, e-waste and ICT-related carbon emissions will keep increasing. 
• The transition to a circular economy for electronics is proving challenging for governments and industries. Limited repair, recycling and remanufacturing highlight the difficulties in moving towards a 'circular economy', where resources are reused. Better data, statistics, policy, and legislation are needed to support this transition, but above all, a change in mindset. 
• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is actively addressing the e-waste challenge. ITU has a broad portfolio of activities in monitoring and regulating e-waste. ITU also develops standards to build a circular economy for electronics. 
• ITU's work on e-waste contributes towards the following Sustainable Development Goals: SDG3 (good health and well-being), SDG 6 (clean water ​and sanitation), SDG8 on decent work and economic growth, SDG11 on sustainable cities and communities and SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production.​

E-waste management presents significant opportunities and challenges, according to the Global E-waste Monitor 2024 report, which found that, in 2022, a total of 62 billion kilograms of e-waste was generated worldwide, with only 22.3% having been properly collected and recycled. This low recycling rate underscores the need for improved infrastructure and regulatory support, particularly in countries without any policy, legislative or regulatory instrument on e-waste. Countries without such legal instruments are reported to have collection and recycling rates close to zero, compared with 25% for those countries with legislation on e-waste.  

Embedded in this e-waste are 31 billion kilograms of valuable metals, valued at USD 91 billion, including USD 19 billion worth of copper, USD 15 billion of gold and USD 16 billion of iron. Additionally, e-waste contains 17 billion kilograms of plastics and 14 billion kilograms of other materials like minerals and glass. The value of secondary raw materials reclaimed through urban mining for 2022 was USD 28 billion, emphasizing the huge economic potential of proper management of e-waste.  

In 2022, formal recycling efforts avoided the extraction of 900 million tonnes of primary ore and prevented 93 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2)-equivalent emissions, with 41 million tonnes from recaptured refrigerants and 52 million tonnes from avoided metal mining emissions.   

Despite these opportunities, the sector faces challenges such as inadequate legislation, insufficient recycling facilities, and the need for greater public awareness and participation in the entire life cycle of electronics. Addressing these issues has the potential to significantly enhance the environment, social and economic benefits of e-waste management. 

ITU is seeking to enable environmentally sustainable digital transformation. Recognizing the pivotal role of digital technologies in climate action and sustainable development, ITU is committed to leading the circular economy transition for electrical and electronic equipment.  

• ​ E-waste Monitoring: ITU focuses on monitoring e-waste to support countries in improving the quality, collection, and interpretation of e-waste data. ITU documents the collection and improvement of e-waste data including generation, collection, and recycling rates, plus the role of data in informing a circular economy and climate change such as on valuable materials, critical materials, energy efficiency and carbon emissions saved.  
• The ITU is a founding member of the Global E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP), through which this priority area is implemented. As part of the GESP, ITU jointly publishes the Global E-waste Monitor, which is most comprehensive source providing a global overview on e-waste data and statistics. 
• The GESP also supports governments to improve their national e-waste data collection and analysis through the publication of National E-waste Monitors and dedicated training sessions. 
• The GESP launched an open-source portal globalewaste.org that provides e-waste data and statistics globally, regionally and by country, dedicated to policy-makers, industry stakeholders, academic and the general public. The portal features the latest data from the Global E-waste Monitor report, as well as regional and national e-waste monitors. 
• Regulating E-waste: ITU provides technical assistance through an e-waste policy support programme to help countries manage e-waste at the national level and implement the extended producer responsibility principle in e-waste regulatory frameworks. This assistance aims to increase the global take-up of environmentally sound national e-waste management regulations. In partnership with public and private sector donors, ITU is responding to Member States requests for technical assistance and capacity-building for e-waste regulatory developments. 
• Standards: International standards and guidelines developed by ITU enable sustainable e-waste management systems, safe recycling procedures, and accelerate the global transition towards a circular economy. Examples of ITU-T's work include:  
• Guidelines for sustainable e-waste management (Extended producer responsibility) (ITU standard L.1021).  
• E-waste management framework for countries (ITU standard L.1030).  
• Guideline for achieving the e-waste targets of the Connect 2030 Agenda (ITU standard L.1031).  
• Guidelines and certification schemes for e-waste recyclers (ITU standard L.1032).  
• Guidance for institutions of higher learning to contribute in the effective life cycle management of e-equipment and e-waste (ITU standard L.1033).  
• Scheduled waste management for a base station (inclusive of e-waste) (ITU standard L.1036).  
• Guidelines for developing a sustainable e-waste management system (Supplement L Suppl. 4 to ITU standard).  
• Supplement on success stories on e-waste management (Supplement L Suppl. 27 to ITU standard).  
  

• Multistakeholder collaboration: 
• ITU is a member of the Solving the E-waste Problem (StEP) Initiative, a programme dedicated to facilitating global and collaborative efforts in reducing e-waste through policy change, eco-design, re-use, recycling and capacity-building. 
• ITU is a strategic partner of the Circular Electronics Partnership (CEP), a global coordination platform for organizations and businesses that are actively working on creating a circular electronics industry. 
• ITU takes part in International E-waste Day celebrations on October 14th. This event, initiated by the WEEE Forum, aims to raise awareness about the e-waste issue and to promote responsible e-waste management practices globally.  

Further resources: 

• ITU's Environment Mandate 
• Priority Area: Circular Economy 
• Global E-waste Monitors 
• ITU-T, Environment, Climate Change and Circular Economy. 
• ITU-T Study Group 5: Environment, EMF and Circular Economy.

Last update: July 2024​