Brussels-based Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum on the Occasion of International E-Waste Day (14th October), commissioned the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to calculate the annual quantities of Invisible E-Waste items.Invisible e-waste refers to electronic waste that often goes unnoticed due to its nature or appearance, causing consumers to overlook its recyclable potential.There are Numerous electronic items falling under this category, such as cables, e-toys, e-cigarettes, e-bikes, power tools, smoke detectors, USB sticks, wearable health devices, and smart home gadgets.
WEEE Forum
- It is the world’s largest multinational centre of competence as regards operational know-how concerning the management of ‘waste electrical and electronic equipment’ (or ‘WEEE’, for short).
- It is a not-for-profit association of 46 WEEE producer responsibility organisations across the world and was founded in April 2002.
- Through exchange of best practice and access to its reputable knowledge base toolbox, the WEEE Forum enables its members to improve their operations and be known as promoters of the circular economy.
Invisible E-Waste Volume
- Consumers fail to recognize almost one-sixth of global Electronic Waste, totaling nearly 9 billion kilograms annually.
- Around 35% of invisible e-waste (approximately 3.2 billion kilograms) comes from the e-toy category, including race car sets, electric trains, drones, and biking computers.
- An estimated 844 million vaping devices are discarded annually, contributing significantly to the invisible e-waste mountain.
Value of Invisible E-Waste
- The material value of invisible e-waste amounts to about USD 9.5 billion each year, showcasing its economic importance primarily due to components like iron, copper, and gold.