In 2019, global e-waste hit its highest total ever — 53.6 million metric tons of discarded electronics — and only 17.4% of that material was recycled, according to a new report.
Decluttr, a global “recommerce” leader that buys and sells technology and media products, estimates that e-waste accounts for 70% of toxic waste in landfills, with phones a major culprit. In a recent survey of more than 2,000 Americans, Decluttr found that although 9 in 10 respondents believe it is important to recycle phones and keep unused tech out of landfills, 43% of respondents have tossed old devices in the trash within the last 8 to 10 weeks of the pandemic lockdown.
