"Millions of tons of discarded electronics from the United States are being shipped overseas, much of it to developing countries in Southeast Asia unprepared to safely handle hazardous waste, according to a new report by an environmental watchdog. The Seattle-based Basel Action Network, or BAN, said a two-year investigation found at least 10 U.S. companies exporting used electronics to Asia and the Middle East, in what it says is a "hidden tsunami" of electronic waste."
"Electronic waste, or e-waste, includes discarded devices like phones and computers containing both valuable materials and toxic metals like lead, cadmium and mercury. As gadgets are replaced faster, global e-waste is growing five times quicker than it's formally recycled. The world produced a record 62 million metric tons in 2022. That's expected to climb to 82 million by 2030, according to the United Nations' International Telecommunication Union and its research arm, UNITAR."
Millions of tons of discarded electronics from the United States are exported overseas, much destined for developing countries in Southeast Asia that lack safe handling capacity. Electronic waste contains valuable recoverable materials alongside toxic metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury. Global e-waste generation is rising rapidly, growing five times faster than formal recycling; the world produced 62 million metric tons in 2022 and is projected to reach 82 million by 2030. About 2,000 containers—roughly 33,000 metric tons—of used electronics leave U.S. ports each month. Many shipments are handled by intermediaries who send electronics abroad rather than recycle domestically. Large volumes end up in landfills or informal scrapyards where workers burn or dismantle devices without protection, releasing hazardous fumes and leaching toxins.
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