International e-waste day: get your laboratories tackling e-waste

With International E-Waste Day on 14 October, laboratories are called to reassess their electronic waste, ensuring responsible recycling and reuse practices.

Laboratories around the world are increasingly dependent on electronic devices, from precision instruments to data systems. As such, these research environments are uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in the global effort to reduce electronic waste (e-waste). As the Global E-Waste Monitor 2024 from UNITAR and ITU highlights, nearly a quarter of the world’s discarded electronics end up in household waste—wasting billions of pounds worth of valuable materials like copper, gold, and rare earth elements.

The E-Waste Crisis: A Laboratory Perspective

Annually, 14 million tonnes of e-waste—equal to the weight of 24,000 passenger aircraft—are discarded with ordinary rubbish. This e-waste includes critical materials such as metals and plastics, essential for producing new technology and for maintaining scientific and technological advancement. Pascal Leroy, Director General of the WEEE Forum, stresses the scope of this issue: “Small electronic and electrical goods such as mobile phones, toys, remote controls, game consoles, headphones, lamps, screens and monitors, heating and cooling equipment, and chargers are everywhere.”

For laboratories, this is particularly pertinent. Over time, facilities accumulate broken or obsolete equipment. Left unchecked, these discarded items contribute to the growing e-waste problem. Yet laboratories have both the knowledge and infrastructure to take proactive steps.

The Role of Labs in E-Waste Reduction

International E-Waste Day offers a critical opportunity for laboratories to contribute meaningfully. Magdalena Charytanowicz, who leads the initiative at the WEEE Forum, believes every individual and organisation can help reduce waste. “We know what to do, and we can do better,” she says. Laboratories are in a position to set an example by ensuring proper disposal and recycling of e-waste through existing programmes.

In 2022, WEEE Forum members collected 3.1 million tonnes of e-waste. This avoided significant environmental harm, preventing the leakage of toxic materials like lead and cadmium, while also reducing the need for mining. The recycling of these materials also helped mitigate CO2 emissions—by an estimated 93 billion kilograms in 2022 alone, according to the Global E-Waste Monitor 2024.

How Laboratories Can Participate

Laboratories, particularly those in research-heavy sectors, generate substantial volumes of e-waste. However, a proactive approach can help curb this impact:

• Conduct an e-waste audit: Inventory and assess unused or outdated electronics, from lab instruments to computers. Identify which devices can be reused, repurposed, or recycled.
• Utilise certified collection points: Leverage the 183,000 registered collection points organised by the WEEE Forum to ensure proper recycling of electronics.
• Don’t hoard equipment: Studies show that many organisations, like households, hold onto obsolete devices. As Ms Charytanowicz notes, “The place to start is the junk drawer”—a reminder that no equipment is too small to recycle.

Leading by Example

By engaging in International E-Waste Day, laboratories can act as leaders in the responsible management of electronic waste. Recycling e-waste not only prevents environmental damage but also conserves valuable resources that are vital to modern research and technology.

As electronic waste continues to grow globally, now is the time for every lab to take stock. International E-Waste Day offers the perfect moment to clear out obsolete electronics, ensuring they are recycled or repurposed sustainably.