E-waste represents 2% of trash but equals to 70% of overall toxic waste. Recycling of e-waste enables recovery of precious metals thereby reducing the discharge of serious toxins, chemicals, and heavy metals into the environment. The growing volume of e-waste is a major concern globally and E-Waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in emerging as well as developed regions.
It learned that 41.8 million tons of assorted electronic devices such as refrigerators, televisions, washing machines and countless other electronic appliances were thrown away and world鈥檚 total e-waste management market was worth USD 1.66 Billion in 2014 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 20.6% between 2015 and 2020.
China is one of the main e-waste producing regions with electronic market size of China is over 150 billion dollars, about 20 million computers, 10 million television sets, 6 million washing machines, 4 million refrigerators were thrown away every year. E-waste recycling rate of China is lower than 15%; largest materials recycled by e-waste recycling are metals, plastics and glass.
Figure Share of Materials Recycled From Five Main Kinds of Electronic Appliances in China
