$10bn of precious metals dumped each year in electronic waste, says UN
by Damian Carrington Environment editor from on (#559PC)
A fast growing mountain of toxic e-waste is polluting the planet and damaging health, says new report
At least $10bn (7.9bn) worth of gold, platinum and other precious metals are dumped every year in the growing mountain of electronic waste that is polluting the planet, according to a new UN report.
A record 54m tonnes of e-waste" was generated worldwide in 2019, up 21% in five years, the UN's Global E-waste Monitor report found. The 2019 figure is equivalent to 7.3kg for every man, woman and child on Earth, though use is concentrated in richer nations. The amount of e-waste is rising three times faster than the world's population, and only 17% of it was recycled in 2019.
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