The document discusses the issue of e-waste, providing statistics that show the large amount of e-waste generated worldwide each year and the small percentage that is recycled. It notes that e-waste contains many toxic substances like lead, mercury, and arsenic. Much of the world's e-waste is shipped to Asia for disposal, where the toxins can harm people and the environment. The document calls for better practices around designing products for repair/recycling, reusing devices longer, and reducing e-waste disposal.

1. E-Waste – Sobering facts

2. Some E-Waste background…
• We generate around 40 million tons of electronic waste every year, worldwide. That’s like
throwing 800 laptops every second.
• An average cellphone user replaces their unit once every 18 months.
• E-waste comprises 70% of our overall toxic waste.
• Only 12.5% of E-Waste is recycled.
• 85% of our E-Waste are sent to landfills and incinerators are mostly burned, and release
harmful toxins in the air!
• Electronics contain lead which can damage our central nervous system and kidneys.
• A child’s mental development can be affected by low level exposure to lead.
• The most common hazardous electronic items include LCD desktop monitors, LCD
televisions, Plasma Televisions, TVs and computers with Cathode Ray Tubes.
• E-waste contains hundreds of substances, of which many are toxic. This includes
mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, selenium, chromium, and flame retardants.
• 80% of E-Waste in the US and from most other countries is transported to Asia.
• 300 million computers and 1 billion cellphones go into production annually. It is expected
to grow by 8% per year. (not forgetting IoT devices!)
Facts for 2014/15 from World Counts web site : https://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/Electronic-Waste-Facts

3. E-Waste – Positive actions?

4. So what can we do about it….
• Build to recycle and repair
• Build from recycled
• Buy sustainable products and services
• Sweat the asset – its not just an energy issue…
• Power management
• Repair to prolong life
• Pass on for re-use, re-cycle, re-claim
• It’s a crime to throw away…

5. E-Footprints

6. 0,0
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tCO2e
ICT Carbon Footprint (Daily)
Defra ICT Animal Health Natural England Rural Payments Agency Previous Year
UK Government Footprints – Defra 2016/17 by organisation

7. 0,0
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apr-16 mag-16 giu-16 lug-16 ago-16 set-16 ott-16 nov-16 dic-16 gen-17 feb-17 mar-17
tCO2e
ICT Carbon Footprint (Daily by Device)
Laptops Desktops Printers Networks Servers Sampson House Global Switch Daisy
Uk Government Defra all organisations by ICT service

8. Changes
Category
Energy Use
(kWh/y)
% Energy Cost (£/y)
CO2 emissions
(kg/y)
Number of
staff
covered
Average
kWh/y staff
Average £/
staff
Average kg
CO2/ staff
AV -202,972 -1.3% -19,688 -93,812 10,736 -26 -3 -12
End User devices 393,110 1.0% 38,132 181,692 1,063 11 1 5
Imaging -27,007 -0.4% -2,620 -12,482 1,063 -3 0 -1
Networks 814,901 4.3% 79,045 376,639 1,063 38 4 18
Servers 85,977 -3.8% 8,340 39,738 1,063 -27 -3 -12
Telephony 41,456 0.1% 4,021 19,161 1,063 1 0 1
TOTAL 1,105,466 107,230 510,935 -6 -1 -3
Changes 2015/16 to 2016/17