Africa’s contribution to the global electronic waste (e-waste) problem has increased over the past decade, according to a new report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The report reveals that Africa’s share of e-waste generation grew from 5.3% in 2010 to 5.9% in 2022.
This trend reflects a broader pattern in developing economies, where rising consumption of electronic devices like screens, monitors, and telecom equipment coincides with increased e-waste generation.
UNCTAD attributes this growth to factors like population increase, economic expansion, rising disposable incomes, and greater internet connectivity.
However, the report highlights a significant disparity in per capita e-waste production. Consumers in developed countries, such as the US, UK, and Japan, generate three and a half times more digitalization-related waste per person compared to those in developing nations.
UNCTAD identifies “consumerism and aggressive marketing that promotes marginal upgrades” as key drivers of this gap.
This tendency towards overconsumption fuels a cycle of rapid device replacement and contributes disproportionately to the global e-waste burden.
The UNCTAD report underscores the need for addressing e-waste responsibly.
UN Trade and Development Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan underlined the need for a balanced approach: “We must harness the power of digitalization to advance inclusive and sustainable development, while mitigating its negative environmental impacts. This requires a shift towards a circular digital economy, characterized by responsible consumption and production, renewable energy use and comprehensive e-waste management. The digital economy’s growing environmental impact can be reversed”.
As Africa’s consumption of electronic devices continues to rise, implementing sustainable e-waste management practices will be crucial to protecting the environment and public health.
In Kenya, startups like Weee Center have made a call to Kenyans to be part of the global movement that protects the environment by being champions and ambassadors of electronic waste management.
With two sites in Westlands and Utawala, the organization ensures the environment is free of electronic wastes.
During the iconic Connected Africa Summit 2024, Business Development Associate at Weee Center, Purity Muthuita said,”Electronic waste end up piling in our garbages, streams and rivers because collection of other wastes such as plastics and organic wastes have been amplified, while the latter is ignored. Don’t worry, our center is here to focus on electronic waste.”
She added,”Kenyans are tech savvy and consume a lot of electronics. We urge them to visit our centers and also be our ambassadors out there.”
Key figures to understand the environmental impact of the digital economy:
The ICT sector is estimated to have emitted between 69 to 1.6 gigatons of CO2 in 2020, representing 1.5-3.2% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Producing a 2 kg computer requires approximately 800 kg of raw materials.
Demand for critical minerals like graphite, lithium, and cobalt could surge by 500% by 2050.
Data centers consumed 460 TWh of electricity in 2022, with consumption expected to double by 2026.
Digital-related waste increased by 30% between 2010 and 2022, reaching 10.5 million tons globally.
Developed countries generate 25 kg of digital waste per person, compared to less than 1 kg in developing countries and just 0.21 kg in least developed countries (LDCs).
Only 24% of digital waste was formally collected globally in 2022, with a mere 7.5% collection rate in developing countries.
The number of semiconductor units quadrupled from 2001 to 2022, with 5G coverage expected to rise from 25% in 2021 to 85% by 2028.
Internet of Things (IoT) devices are projected to grow from 16 billion in 2023 to 39 billion by 2029.
Business e-commerce sales surged from $17 trillion in 2016 to $27 trillion in 2022 across 43 countries.