The University of Waterloo researchers completed the first comprehensive estimate of e-waste in Canada to understand its lifecycle, from sales of electronic items to e-waste generation.
Their findings reveal that the e-waste generation per person has increased from 8.3kg in 2000 to 25.3kg in 2020. The e-waste in Canada is expected to continue rising in the near future and underscores the need for proactive forecasts to better manage the evolving electronics sector.
“This study provides useful insights to policymakers for setting up targets for e-waste reduction and recycling to recover valuable resources from e-waste,” said researcher Komal Habib. “E-waste could also help to create a secondary supply chain of critical materials, reducing the risks of potential supply disruptions.”
According to a report from 2020, global e-waste quantities grew by a massive 21 per cent in the previous five years and only around one-sixth was properly recycled.
In Canada...