Canadian e-waste has tripled

The first comprehensive analysis of e-waste in Canada found electronic waste has tripled and is steadily growing New research finds that Canada's electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) has more than tripled in the last two decades, the equivalent of filling the CN tower 110 times and generating close to a million tons in 2020 alone. The University of Waterloo researchers completed the first comprehensive estimate of e-waste in Canada to understand its lifecycle, from sales of electronic items to e-waste generation. Their findings reveal that the e-waste generation per person has increased from 8.3 kg in 2000 to 25.3 kg in 2020. The e-waste in Canada is expected to continue rising in the near future and underscores the need for proactive forecasts to better manage the evolving electronics sector. "This study provides useful insights to policymakers for setting up targets for e-waste reduction and recycling to recover valuable resources from e-waste," said Komal Habib, professor in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development. "E-waste could also help to create a secondary supply chain of critical materials, reducing the risks of potential supply disruptions." The estimated growth of e-waste is attributed to consumer habits and Canada's growing population. As the number of households increases, so does consumption.