explaining E-waste

The world is expected to produce 75 million metric tons of electronic waste (e-waste) a year by 2030.

Extending the life of electronic devices, and recycling old ones, can greatly reduce waste. Used devices contain cobalt, nickel and other precious metals.

Currently, only about 20 percent of e-waste is recycled. Much of the rest is sent to poor countries, where toxic substances can harm people and the environment.

Keeping smartphones for four instead of three years can reduce the number of phones in landfills by up to 25 percent.

EU law will standardize chargers for phones, tablets and cameras by the end of 2024. Discarded chargers cause an estimated 11,000 metric tons of e-waste in Europe every year.