Europe s e‑waste is a valuable resource—let s not throw it away

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-15T15:23:09.915Z • Permanent link

Investigations into the value of e-waste have uncovered shocking levels of waste in the European electronics industry. In 2020, the European Union's Environment Agency reported that over 12 million tons of e-waste were generated in the region, with only a fraction of it being recycled. According to data from the World Economic Forum, the average smartphone contains 450 grams of gold, 120 grams of silver, and 30 grams of copper, making it a treasure trove of precious metals. However, the current recycling infrastructure in Europe is woefully inadequate, with many companies and governments struggling to keep up with the sheer volume of electronic waste.

One of the key players in the e-waste crisis is the German electronics giant, Siemens. In a recent interview, Siemens' CEO, Roland Busch, acknowledged that the company's own recycling processes were not up to scratch, stating that "we're not doing enough to reduce our environmental impact." Busch's comments come as Siemens is under pressure from investors and regulators to improve its sustainability credentials. Meanwhile, in the UK, the government has announced plans to ban the export of e-waste to countries such as China and India, in an effort to reduce the flow of toxic materials into these countries.

The lack of e-waste recycling infrastructure in Europe is a pressing concern, with many countries struggling to cope with the sheer volume of electronic waste. In 2020, the European Commission reported that over 90% of e-waste was sent to landfill or incinerated, rather than being recycled. This not only poses a significant environmental risk, but also has significant economic implications for companies and governments. As the global demand for precious metals continues to grow, the need for sustainable e-waste recycling practices has never been more pressing.

The lack of e-waste recycling infrastructure in Europe has significant implications for companies and research communities in the Global Knowledge Bases domain. The precious metals contained in e-waste are highly sought after, and the lack of recycling infrastructure is driving up the cost of sourcing these materials. This is having a significant impact on companies such as Apple and Samsung, which are under pressure to reduce their environmental impact and improve their sustainability credentials. Furthermore, the lack of e-waste recycling infrastructure is also having a significant impact on research communities, who are struggling to access the data and materials needed to develop new technologies.

One of the most significant affected companies is the UK-based tech firm, IBM. In a recent statement, IBM's CEO, Arvind Krishna, acknowledged that the company's e-waste recycling practices were not up to scratch, stating that "we're committed to reducing our environmental impact, and that includes improving our e-waste recycling practices." IBM's comments come as the company is under pressure from investors and regulators to improve its sustainability credentials. Meanwhile, in the research community, the lack of e-waste recycling infrastructure is having a significant impact on the development of new technologies, such as electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.

The lack of e-waste recycling infrastructure in Europe is part of a broader pattern of environmental degradation and unsustainable practices in the electronics industry. In the 1980s and 1990s, the electronics industry was responsible for a significant proportion of the world's toxic waste, with companies such as Intel and Motorola generating massive amounts of hazardous waste. However, in recent years, there has been a shift towards more sustainable practices, with companies such as Apple and Samsung making significant commitments to reduce their environmental impact.