“Invisible” E-Waste Amounts to Nine Billion Kilograms Annually

A significant volume of e-waste, often unnoticed by consumers, is generated each year, reaching a total of nine billion kilograms, equivalent to one-sixth of global e-waste. These “invisible” electronic items include items like cables, electronic toys, LED-decorated clothing, power tools, vaping devices, and more. These discarded items are a serious issue, especially as many contain lithium batteries, which pose a fire risk when disposed of.

Furthermore, the European Commission considers lithium a strategic raw material for the green energy transition, but supplies are becoming scarce. A large portion of these materials ends up in household bins. The estimated annual e-waste quantities include 3.2 billion kg of electronic toys and 844 million vaping devices, among others.