UN report: Time to seize opportunity, tackle challenge of e-waste | UNEP - UN Environment Programme - 0 views
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The world produces as much as 50 million tonnes of electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) a year, weighing more than all of the commercial airliners ever made. Only 20% of this is formally recycled.
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worth over $62.5 billion
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Global e-waste production is on track to reach 120 million tonnes per year by 2050 if current trends continue,
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The Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE) is a public-private group consisting of more than 50 heads from various internal and external organizations. The group intends to fight the route cause of e-waste by repairing the method for which technology is recycled. The plan of action is to establish a circular Economy. Materials are consumed, trashed, and eventually sent to landfills or sent for workers in toxic unsafe conditions to extract the precious materials. The world produces 50 million tons of e-waste annually, accumulating a worth of almost $62 billion. 80% of e-waste is improperly recycled in dangerous polluted conditions, creating an environmental hazard and unethical work conditions. Valuable resources such as gold, are also lost due to this poor method of recycling.Nigeria is one of the many countries that has exploited thousands of workers in the recycling of e-waste. In an effort to reform this issue, the Nigerian government has invested $15 million to employ PACE's circular Economy. The design of a circular Economy allows for products to be either made for longer use or recycled in a sustainable way. The circular Economy will allow for a more efficient and environmentally friendly method of harvesting these resources while providing sustainable job opportunities.