According to a new study, unless mitigating strategies are adopted, GenAI could generate nearly 1,000 times more e-waste by 2030, emphasizing the urgent need for the tech industry to address this looming crisis.
A realistic scenario projected an increase in e-waste production from 2.6 kilotons in 2023 to between 400 kilotons and 2.5 million tons per year by 2030 without waste reduction measures, demonstrating the rapid growth expected.
The researchers underscore the drastic consequences of unchecked growth: "In a pessimistic scenario, the annual e-waste would be equivalent to discarding 2.1 to 13.3 billion iPhone 15 Pro units every year by 2030."
The study aims to provide gross estimates to highlight the potential scales of e-waste generated by AI servers, as they explore potential circular economy solutions to mitigate the issue.
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