As technology evolves rapidly and consumer demand for newer devices continues to surge, electronic waste is piling up at an alarming rate—becoming a hidden threat to both the environment and public health. Old computers make up a significant share of this growing problem.
According to a report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in collaboration with the United Nations University, global electronic waste reached around 62 million tons in 2022, and is expected to climb to 75 million tons by 2030—with less than 20% being safely recycled.
From Your Home to the Dump: The Computer’s Toxic Journey
Old computers contain hazardous substances and heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. When disposed of improperly—through open burning or uncontrolled landfill dumping—these materials leach into soil and groundwater, threatening ecosystems and contaminating the food chain.
Greenpeace reports that older computer processors and monitors contain brominated compounds and PVC (polyvinyl chloride)—both carcinogenic. When burned outdoors, a common practice in waste dumps across some developing countries, they release toxic gases into the air.
In places like Agbogbloshie in Ghana and Guiyu in China, where massive amounts of e-waste accumulate, local communities suffer from respiratory illnesses, skin diseases, and neurological disorders due to prolonged exposure to toxic substances.
Recycling Old Devices: A Circular Way Forward
Experts are calling for stronger adoption of the circular economy, urging manufacturers to take responsibility for their products after consumer use and ensure they are safely processed.
Countries such as those in the European Union and Japan have already introduced programs to collect e-waste from households and encourage users to repair devices instead of discarding them.
