Cairo: The Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) has released a comprehensive analysis on the management of electronic waste (e-waste), underscoring a global shift in perception from e-waste being an environmental challenge to an economic resource. This change supports the circular economy, enhances resource security, and strengthens sustainable value chains.
According to State Information Service Egypt, e-waste comprises electrical and electronic equipment at the end of its life or no longer desired by users, such as smartphones, computers, and household appliances. This waste includes materials posing environmental and health risks, like lead and mercury, alongside economically valuable metals such as gold, copper, and nickel.
The analysis reveals that approximately 62 billion kilograms of e-waste were generated globally in 2022, equating to an average of 7.8 kilograms per person. Despite the economic value estimated at $91 billion for metals in e-waste, current management practices recover only about $28 billion worth of secondary raw materials. This highlights the vast untapped economic potential.
Valuable materials in e-waste include iron, estimated at $24 billion, aluminum at $4 billion, and copper at $2 billion. However, challenges remain, particularly in recycling rare earth elements, which currently meet only 1% of global demand. This calls for developing recovery technologies and improving economic viability.
Small devices, including toys and household appliances, account for nearly one-third of global e-waste, with a formal recycling rate of only 12% globally. There's a significant disparity in recycling rates across regions, with Europe achieving 42.8% in 2022, compared to Africa's 0.7%.
E-waste management is gaining importance amid the global shift toward clean energy, with photovoltaic panel waste expected to quadruple by 2030. This emphasizes the need for integrating end-of-life management into clean-energy policies.
Cross-border movement of e-waste remains significant, with 5.1 billion kilograms crossing international borders in 2022. Notably, 65% of this movement is from high-income to middle- and low-income countries through uncontrolled channels.
The analysis also highlights Egypt's progress in e-waste management, with legislative developments like Waste Management Regulation Law No. 202 of 2020. Egypt's infrastructure includes 38 licensed e-waste recycling plants and initiatives like the E-Tadweer application to encourage safe disposal.
Egypt's One Circle initiative, in collaboration with international partners, has advanced local capabilities in electronic equipment refurbishment, contributing to significant reductions in carbon emissions and creating green jobs.
The analysis concludes that Egypt's economic opportunity in e-waste management extends beyond environmental concerns to building an integrated value chain. This involves increasing formal collection rates, strengthening domestic recovery capabilities, and linking them to the electronics industry, supporting Egypt's transition to a circular economy.