United Nations Environmental Program finds that this is the fastest-growing waste stream all around the world due to increased consumer demand, perceived obsolesce, and rapid changes in technology and inventions of new electronic devices. The situation is compounded by the short lifespans of certain products and products not being designed with recycling in mind. A 2015 report by the United Nations University (UNU) estimated that 41.8 million tonnes (Mt) of e-waste was generated in 2014, almost 25% more than the 2010 figure of 33.8 Mt.2 The amounts of e-waste generated by type are shown in Figure 1.
Most of this waste was generated in Asia (16 Mt), followed by Europe (11.6 MT), North America (7.9 Mt), Latin America and Caribbean (3.8 Mt), Africa (1.9 Mt) and Oceania (0.6 Mt). However, in e-waste generation per capita, Europe has the highest figure (15.6 kg/person) and Africa the lowest (1.7 kg/person). Estimated annual generation in the coming years are as high as 50 Mt in 2018.
Composition of E-Waste .
The composition of e-waste is very diverse, as electrical and electronic equipment encompasses such a broad range of categories. In general it is characterized by containing a combination of metals, plastics, chemicals, glass and other substances. Among the substances of particular interest are a very wide range of metals including rare earth metals like lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, gadolinium and dysprosium; precious metals such as gold, silver and palladium; or other metals such as copper, aluminium or iron, which have a high intrinsic value. However, even though 'critical materials' are scarce, they have recycling rates lower than 1%, which represents a threat to resource security over the long term. Others substances which are hazardous or potentially hazardous, such as lead-containing glass, plastics treated with brominated flame retardants or ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs, are of concern due to the potential health and environmental risks they might pose.