国际电信联盟-2020年全球电子垃圾报告（英文）-2021.3-120页_6mb

The Global E-waste Monitor 2020 Summary

Core Content

The Global E-waste Monitor 2020 provides a comprehensive overview of global e-waste generation, management, and its implications for the environment and human health. It highlights the growing scale of e-waste, the challenges in managing it sustainably, and the importance of data collection and circular economy strategies to address these issues.

Main Points and Key Information

1. E-waste Overview

• Definition: E-waste refers to electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) that has been discarded without the intention of reuse. It includes a wide range of products such as TVs, computers, phones, and appliances.
• Global Generation: In 2019, the world generated 53.6 million metric tons (Mt) of e-waste, equivalent to 7.3 kg per capita.
• Growth Trend: E-waste is expected to grow to 74.7 Mt by 2030, nearly doubling in 16 years.
• Regional Breakdown:
  • Asia: 24.9 Mt
  • Americas: 13.1 Mt
  • Europe: 12 Mt
  • Africa: 2.9 Mt
  • Oceania: 0.7 Mt
• Per Capita E-waste:
  • Europe: 16.2 kg
  • Oceania: 16.1 kg
  • Americas: 13.3 kg
  • Asia: 5.6 kg
  • Africa: 2.5 kg

2. E-waste Management and Recycling

• Formal Collection and Recycling: Only 17.4% of the 2019 e-waste was officially collected and recycled.
• Recycling Rates by Region:
  • Europe: 42.5%
  • Asia: 11.7%
  • Americas: 9.4%
  • Oceania: 8.8%
  • Africa: 0.9%
• Uncollected E-waste: 82.6% of e-waste (44.3 Mt) remains uncollected and unrecycled, with varying environmental and health impacts across regions.
• Informal Sector: In low- and middle-income countries, e-waste is often managed by the informal sector, leading to poor health outcomes for workers and children.

3. Environmental and Health Impacts

• Toxic Substances: E-waste contains mercury, brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which pose significant health and environmental risks.
• Mercury and BFRs: In 2019, 50 t of mercury and 71 kt of BFR plastics were found in unregistered e-waste flows.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Improper disposal of e-waste, particularly refrigerants from discarded fridges and air conditioners, released 98 Mt of CO₂-equivalents into the atmosphere.
• Resource Recovery: The value of raw materials in global e-waste in 2019 was approximately $57 billion, with iron, copper, and gold being the main contributors. Only $10 billion was recovered through environmentally sound methods.

4. Circular Economy Potential

• E-waste as an Urban Mine: E-waste contains precious, critical, and non-critical metals that can be recycled to reduce reliance on virgin materials.
• Circular Economy Strategies: The report emphasizes the need for sound policies, legal frameworks, and recycling infrastructure to enable a circular economy and reduce environmental impact.

5. Policy and Legislation

• Legislative Coverage: 78 countries have adopted some form of e-waste policy, legislation, or regulation.
• Implementation Gaps: Despite legislative coverage, implementation and enforcement remain weak, especially in low-income regions.
• Product Scope: The scope of legislation varies, often not matching the UNU-KEYs classification system, leading to inconsistent e-waste statistics.

6. Data Collection and Monitoring

• Global E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP): This partnership, led by the UNU-SCYCLE Programme, collects and standardizes e-waste data globally.
• Open-Source Database: The GESP maintains an open-source global e-waste database at www.globalewaste.org.
• SDGs Alignment: E-waste data contribute to monitoring SDG 11.6, SDG 12.4, and SDG 12.5.
• ITU Target: The ITU aims to increase the global e-waste recycling rate to 30% by 2023, which would represent a 12.6% increase from the current rate.

7. Transboundary Movements

• Illegal Shipment: A significant portion of e-waste is illegally exported or misclassified as scrap metal or for reuse.
• Estimated Volume: Transboundary movements of used EEE or e-waste range from 7–20% of total e-waste generated.

Conclusion

To achieve a sustainable society and circular economy, it is essential to increase the documented collection and recycling rate of e-waste, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The report underscores the need for better data collection, policy enforcement, and investment in recycling infrastructure to mitigate environmental and health risks and recover valuable resources from e-waste.