GREEM FUTURE: HOW TECH GIANTS CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION

With consumers encouraged to upgrade their smartphones on a near-annual basis and the throwaway culture of technology continuing apace, e-waste is fast-becoming one of the key environmental concerns. Less than 40% of our phones, tablets, and laptops are recycled, with the rest destined for landfill. The key to change lies with us - and our technology giants.

THE RISE OF E-WASTE

Though e-waste has been a concern for a number of years, it’s only in the past decade that consumers have adopted technology in such a way that is causing catastrophic damage to our environment. According to one recent study, , with IoT technologies such as smart speakers ballooning that figure. Data out of Europe suggests just 40% of e-waste in the European Union is recycled, with practices varying depending on the territory. In Croatia, for example, 81% of all tech is recycled, whereas, in Malta, it’s just 21%. The data is even more concerning in the United States. Although the US produces more than 6 million tons of the world’s electronic waste every year, less than 20% of it is recycled, with the vast majority headed to landfills. What is