Global electronic waste volumes are reaching unprecedented levels annually, having grown to 62 million tonnes of e-waste in 2022. These latest verified numbers represent an 82% increase compared to the 2010 volumes. 

Yet, only 22% of this waste was recycled through formal channels in 2022. With the demand for new advancements contributing to fast-changing technological shifts, the global amount of generated e-waste is expected to skyrocket to 74 million tonnes by 2030. 

The United Nations (UN) defines e-waste as any discarded product with a battery or plug, featuring toxic and hazardous substances such as mercury, which can pose severe risks to human and environmental health. For more information on this issue, Asanda Beda spoke to Aysha Lotter, the Spokesperson for WEEE, a central platform dedicated to raising awareness about responsible consumption, reuse, recovery, and recycling of e-waste in South Africa.