WEEE Announces Fourth International E-Waste Day

“The consumer is the key to Circular Economy”: join the fourth International E-Waste Day and raise public awareness of e-waste

This year’s International E-Waste Day (#ewasteday), taking place on 14 October, will focus on the crucial part each of us plays, as consumers and citizens, in making circularity a reality for e-products.

According to the UN, in 2021 each person on the planet will produce on average 7.6 kg of e-waste, meaning that a massive 57.4 million tonnes will be generated worldwide. Only 17.4 per cent of this electronic waste, containing a mixture of harmful substances and precious materials, will be recorded as being properly collected, treated and recycled. Many initiatives are undertaken to tackle this growing concern, but none of them can be fully effective without the active role and correct education of consumers.

“Education and awareness are powerful tools for preventing waste and boosting separate collection and quality treatment. If you need to climb a mountain you need the right tools. International E-Waste Day is the right kind of tool” said Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for the Environment in his dedicated message last year.

This is one of the reasons why this year too, the WEEE Forum invite all stakeholders to plan awareness raising activities for 14 October and join this common effort by registering as an official participant of International E-Waste Day. Any action promoting sound e-waste collection, repair, reuse or recycling is welcome in the frame of International E-Waste Day. Registered participants will get access to the official promotional materials. Further details here..