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  • Pay With Waste Bazaar In Bandung City
    DUKAS_184231500_NUR
    Pay With Waste Bazaar In Bandung City
    Residents line up with trash to redeem it during a pay-with-waste bazaar in Babakan Sari, Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia, on May 3, 2025. The Bandung City Government, together with Bank Sampah Great Bandung, holds a shopping bazaar for residents who want to shop for groceries and clothes in exchange for recycled waste to reduce inorganic waste in Bandung. (Photo by Claudio Pramana/NurPhoto)

     

  • Pay With Waste Bazaar In Bandung City
    DUKAS_184231496_NUR
    Pay With Waste Bazaar In Bandung City
    Workers weigh residents' waste to be redeemed during a pay-with-waste bazaar in Babakan Sari, Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia, on May 3, 2025. The Bandung City Government, together with Bank Sampah Great Bandung, holds a shopping bazaar for residents who want to shop for groceries and clothes in exchange for recycled waste to reduce inorganic waste in Bandung. (Photo by Claudio Pramana/NurPhoto)

     

  • Pay With Waste Bazaar In Bandung City
    DUKAS_184231492_NUR
    Pay With Waste Bazaar In Bandung City
    Residents organize sacks of garbage to exchange during a pay-with-waste bazaar in Babakan Sari, Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia, on May 3, 2025. The Bandung City Government, together with Bank Sampah Great Bandung, holds a shopping bazaar for residents who want to shop for groceries and clothes in exchange for recycled waste to reduce inorganic waste in Bandung. (Photo by Claudio Pramana/NurPhoto)

     

  • Pay With Waste Bazaar In Bandung City
    DUKAS_184231488_NUR
    Pay With Waste Bazaar In Bandung City
    Residents carry sacks of garbage to exchange during a pay-with-waste bazaar in Babakan Sari, Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia, on May 3, 2025. The Bandung City Government, together with Bank Sampah Great Bandung, holds a shopping bazaar for residents who want to shop for groceries and clothes in exchange for recycled waste to reduce inorganic waste in Bandung. (Photo by Claudio Pramana/NurPhoto)

     

  • Pay With Waste Bazaar In Bandung City
    DUKAS_184231484_NUR
    Pay With Waste Bazaar In Bandung City
    Workers give vouchers to residents who give away their waste during a pay-with-waste bazaar in Babakan Sari, Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia, on May 3, 2025. The Bandung City Government, together with Bank Sampah Great Bandung, holds a shopping bazaar for residents who want to shop for groceries and clothes in exchange for recycled waste to reduce inorganic waste in Bandung. (Photo by Claudio Pramana/NurPhoto)

     

  • 'You sold it - now recycle it': Wendy Ward, the protesters mailing worn-out clothes to the shops they bought them from.
    DUKAS_184100373_EYE
    'You sold it - now recycle it': Wendy Ward, the protesters mailing worn-out clothes to the shops they bought them from.
    Wendy Ward with some of the 2,000kg of rag waste collected in just three days at St Luke's hospice charity warehouse in Sheffield.

    Sheffield-based designer, maker and eco activist Wendy Ward sent a threadbare polycotton bedsheet to Simon Roberts, CEO of Sainsbury’s. A “protest by post”.

    Charity shops won't take them. Councils incinerate them. Retailers dump them on the global south. We're running out of ideas on how to deal with our used clothes - and the rag mountain just keeps growing.

    Wendy Ward, PhD researcher at Sheffield Hallam University, with cages of rags collected and sorted at St Luke’s hospice charity warehouse in Sheffield.
    Sheffield, UK, 28 April 2025.

    Christopher Thomond / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    Christopher Thomond

     

  • 'You sold it - now recycle it': Wendy Ward, the protesters mailing worn-out clothes to the shops they bought them from.
    DUKAS_184100369_EYE
    'You sold it - now recycle it': Wendy Ward, the protesters mailing worn-out clothes to the shops they bought them from.
    Wendy Ward with some of the 2,000kg of rag waste collected in just three days at St Luke's hospice charity warehouse in Sheffield.

    Sheffield-based designer, maker and eco activist Wendy Ward sent a threadbare polycotton bedsheet to Simon Roberts, CEO of Sainsbury’s. A “protest by post”.

    Charity shops won't take them. Councils incinerate them. Retailers dump them on the global south. We're running out of ideas on how to deal with our used clothes - and the rag mountain just keeps growing.

    Wendy Ward, PhD researcher at Sheffield Hallam University, with cages of rags collected and sorted at St Luke’s hospice charity warehouse in Sheffield.
    Sheffield, UK, 28 April 2025.

    Christopher Thomond / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    Christopher Thomond

     

  • 'You sold it - now recycle it': Wendy Ward, the protesters mailing worn-out clothes to the shops they bought them from.
    DUKAS_184100371_EYE
    'You sold it - now recycle it': Wendy Ward, the protesters mailing worn-out clothes to the shops they bought them from.
    Wendy Ward with some of the 2,000kg of rag waste collected in just three days at St Luke's hospice charity warehouse in Sheffield.

    Sheffield-based designer, maker and eco activist Wendy Ward sent a threadbare polycotton bedsheet to Simon Roberts, CEO of Sainsbury’s. A “protest by post”.

    Charity shops won't take them. Councils incinerate them. Retailers dump them on the global south. We're running out of ideas on how to deal with our used clothes - and the rag mountain just keeps growing.

    Wendy Ward, PhD researcher at Sheffield Hallam University, with 2,000kg of rag waste collected in just three days at St Luke’s hospice charity warehouse in Sheffield.
    Sheffield, UK, 28 April 2025.

    Christopher Thomond / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    Christopher Thomond

     

  • 'You sold it - now recycle it': Wendy Ward, the protesters mailing worn-out clothes to the shops they bought them from.
    DUKAS_184100363_EYE
    'You sold it - now recycle it': Wendy Ward, the protesters mailing worn-out clothes to the shops they bought them from.
    Wendy Ward with some of the 2,000kg of rag waste collected in just three days at St Luke's hospice charity warehouse in Sheffield.

    Sheffield-based designer, maker and eco activist Wendy Ward sent a threadbare polycotton bedsheet to Simon Roberts, CEO of Sainsbury’s. A “protest by post”.

    Charity shops won't take them. Councils incinerate them. Retailers dump them on the global south. We're running out of ideas on how to deal with our used clothes - and the rag mountain just keeps growing.

    Wendy Ward, PhD researcher at Sheffield Hallam University, with 2,000kg of rag waste collected in just three days at St Luke’s hospice charity warehouse in Sheffield.
    Sheffield, UK, 28 April 2025.

    Christopher Thomond / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    Christopher Thomond

     

  • 'You sold it - now recycle it': Wendy Ward, the protesters mailing worn-out clothes to the shops they bought them from.
    DUKAS_184100366_EYE
    'You sold it - now recycle it': Wendy Ward, the protesters mailing worn-out clothes to the shops they bought them from.
    Wendy Ward with some of the 2,000kg of rag waste collected in just three days at St Luke's hospice charity warehouse in Sheffield.

    Sheffield-based designer, maker and eco activist Wendy Ward sent a threadbare polycotton bedsheet to Simon Roberts, CEO of Sainsbury’s. A “protest by post”.

    Charity shops won't take them. Councils incinerate them. Retailers dump them on the global south. We're running out of ideas on how to deal with our used clothes - and the rag mountain just keeps growing.

    Wendy Ward, PhD researcher at Sheffield Hallam University, with 2,000kg of rag waste collected in just three days at St Luke’s hospice charity warehouse in Sheffield.
    Sheffield, UK, 28 April 2025.

    Christopher Thomond / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    Christopher Thomond

     

  • Alex Baldock: the Currys boss plugging into a more sustainable future
    DUKAS_174737073_EYE
    Alex Baldock: the Currys boss plugging into a more sustainable future
    Covid and other crises took their toll, but the Alex Baldock boss of the electricals chain Currys says its thriving repair and recycling division is now pointing the way forward.

    Currys CEO Alex Baldock during a visit to the Currys Customer Repair Centre in newark, UK.

    Gary Calton / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    Gary Calton mob 0797312255

     

  • Alex Baldock: the Currys boss plugging into a more sustainable future
    DUKAS_174737074_EYE
    Alex Baldock: the Currys boss plugging into a more sustainable future
    Covid and other crises took their toll, but the Alex Baldock boss of the electricals chain Currys says its thriving repair and recycling division is now pointing the way forward.

    Currys CEO Alex Baldock during a visit to the Currys Customer Repair Centre in newark, UK.

    Gary Calton / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    Gary Calton mob 0797312255

     

  • How a monk and a Hippo joined forces to tackle Bangkok’s plastic pollution
    DUKAS_173188220_EYE
    How a monk and a Hippo joined forces to tackle Bangkok’s plastic pollution
    Desperate to restore the Chao Praya River to a pristine state, an abbot in the Thai capital began recycling in his temple. Now he has a floating ally in his efforts to clean up the river.

    The Chao Phraya River is the largest waterway flowing through central Thailand.

    In Bangkok, it is an artery for a network of water buses, ferries and wooden long-tail boats. But it's not just carrying people. According to research by the Rotterdam-based non-profit organisation Ocean Cleanup, the Chao Praya River carries 4,000 tonnes of plastic waste to the sea every year.

    Workers sew orange robes for monks from fabric made from recycled plastic at Wat Chak Daeng on July 30, 2024 in Bangkok. The HIPPO project by Seven Clean Seas, in collaboration with Wat Chak Daeng temple, uses a solar-powered vessel to collect plastic waste from Bangkok's Chao Phraya River and recycles it to reduce environmental pollution. Phra Mahapranom Dhammalangkaro, the abbot, leads a project at Wat Chak Daeng that turns plastic waste into monk robes, upcycling around 40 tons of plastic since 2015 and serving as a model for environmental conservation.

    Lauren DeCicca / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    Photo by Lauren DeCicca

     

  • How a monk and a Hippo joined forces to tackle Bangkok’s plastic pollution
    DUKAS_173188218_EYE
    How a monk and a Hippo joined forces to tackle Bangkok’s plastic pollution
    Desperate to restore the Chao Praya River to a pristine state, an abbot in the Thai capital began recycling in his temple. Now he has a floating ally in his efforts to clean up the river.

    The Chao Phraya River is the largest waterway flowing through central Thailand.

    In Bangkok, it is an artery for a network of water buses, ferries and wooden long-tail boats. But it's not just carrying people. According to research by the Rotterdam-based non-profit organisation Ocean Cleanup, the Chao Praya River carries 4,000 tonnes of plastic waste to the sea every year.

    Workers sew orange robes for monks from fabric made from recycled plastic at Wat Chak Daeng on July 30, 2024 in Bangkok. The HIPPO project by Seven Clean Seas, in collaboration with Wat Chak Daeng temple, uses a solar-powered vessel to collect plastic waste from Bangkok's Chao Phraya River and recycles it to reduce environmental pollution. Phra Mahapranom Dhammalangkaro, the abbot, leads a project at Wat Chak Daeng that turns plastic waste into monk robes, upcycling around 40 tons of plastic since 2015 and serving as a model for environmental conservation.

    Lauren DeCicca / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    Photo by Lauren DeCicca

     

  • Space suit that turns urine into drinking water
    DUKAS_172250437_FER
    Space suit that turns urine into drinking water
    Ferrari Press Agency
    Space suit 1
    Ref 16001
    12/07/2024
    See Ferrari text
    Pictures must credit: Luca Bielski/ Weill Cornell Medicine /Cornell University
    A space suit that filters and purifies astronauts urine into drinkable water has been unveiled by researchers.
    The team behind it compared the suit to the “stillsuits’ in the blockbuster Dune movie franchise, which absorbed and purified water lost through sweating and urination.
    Now, this sci-fi is about to become reality, with a prototype novel urine collection and filtration system for spacesuits designed by researchers from the USA’s Cornell University,
    Astronauts on spacewalks have to relieve themselves inside their spacesuits.
    Not only is this uncomfortable for the wearer and unhygienic, it is also wasteful, as unlike wastewater on board the International Space Station – the water in urine from spacewalks is not recycled.
    Study first author Sofia Etlin and colleagues have now designed a urine collection device, including an undergarment made of multiple layers of flexible fabric.

    OPS:Urine collection cups for the maximum absorbency garment for men
    Picture supplied by Ferrari (FOTO: DUKAS/FERRARI PRESS)

     

  • Space suit that turns urine into drinking water
    DUKAS_172250435_FER
    Space suit that turns urine into drinking water
    Ferrari Press Agency
    Space suit 1
    Ref 16001
    12/07/2024
    See Ferrari text
    Pictures must credit: Karen Morales/ Weill Cornell Medicine /Cornell University
    A space suit that filters and purifies astronauts urine into drinkable water has been unveiled by researchers.
    The team behind it compared the suit to the “stillsuits’ in the blockbuster Dune movie franchise, which absorbed and purified water lost through sweating and urination.
    Now, this sci-fi is about to become reality, with a prototype novel urine collection and filtration system for spacesuits designed by researchers from the USA’s Cornell University,
    Astronauts on spacewalks have to relieve themselves inside their spacesuits.
    Not only is this uncomfortable for the wearer and unhygienic, it is also wasteful, as unlike wastewater on board the International Space Station – the water in urine from spacewalks is not recycled.
    Study first author Sofia Etlin and colleagues have now designed a urine collection device, including an undergarment made of multiple layers of flexible fabric.

    OPS:Rear view of the whole system, worn as a backpack
    Picture supplied by Ferrari (FOTO: DUKAS/FERRARI PRESS)

     

  • Space suit that turns urine into drinking water
    DUKAS_172250434_FER
    Space suit that turns urine into drinking water
    Ferrari Press Agency
    Space suit 1
    Ref 16001
    12/07/2024
    See Ferrari text
    Pictures must credit: Claire Walter/ Weill Cornell Medicine /Cornell University
    A space suit that filters and purifies astronauts urine into drinkable water has been unveiled by researchers.
    The team behind it compared the suit to the “stillsuits’ in the blockbuster Dune movie franchise, which absorbed and purified water lost through sweating and urination.
    Now, this sci-fi is about to become reality, with a prototype novel urine collection and filtration system for spacesuits designed by researchers from the USA’s Cornell University,
    Astronauts on spacewalks have to relieve themselves inside their spacesuits.
    Not only is this uncomfortable for the wearer and unhygienic, it is also wasteful, as unlike wastewater on board the International Space Station – the water in urine from spacewalks is not recycled.
    Study first author Sofia Etlin and colleagues have now designed a urine collection device, including an undergarment made of multiple layers of flexible fabric.

    OPS:Urine collection garment prototype
    Picture supplied by Ferrari (FOTO: DUKAS/FERRARI PRESS)

     

  • Space suit that turns urine into drinking water
    DUKAS_172250433_FER
    Space suit that turns urine into drinking water
    Ferrari Press Agency
    Space suit 1
    Ref 16001
    12/07/2024
    See Ferrari text
    Pictures must credit: Karen Morales/ Weill Cornell Medicine /Cornell University
    A space suit that filters and purifies astronauts urine into drinkable water has been unveiled by researchers.
    The team behind it compared the suit to the “stillsuits’ in the blockbuster Dune movie franchise, which absorbed and purified water lost through sweating and urination.
    Now, this sci-fi is about to become reality, with a prototype novel urine collection and filtration system for spacesuits designed by researchers from the USA’s Cornell University,
    Astronauts on spacewalks have to relieve themselves inside their spacesuits.
    Not only is this uncomfortable for the wearer and unhygienic, it is also wasteful, as unlike wastewater on board the International Space Station – the water in urine from spacewalks is not recycled.
    Study first author Sofia Etlin and colleagues have now designed a urine collection device, including an undergarment made of multiple layers of flexible fabric.

    OPS:Rear view of the whole system, worn as a backpack
    Picture supplied by Ferrari (FOTO: DUKAS/FERRARI PRESS)

     

  • New speed boat has  hull that can be recycled
    DUKAS_166340281_FER
    New speed boat has hull that can be recycled
    Ferrari Press Agency
    Phantom 1
    Ref 15599
    22/02/2024
    See Ferrari text
    Pictures must credit: Vision Marine Technologies

    A plastic boat with a hull that can be recycled up to nine times, is ready to make a splash.

    The Phantom has been designed to comfortably seat up to ten passengers.

    But its construction means it is cheaper to build and therefore sell than typical vessels of the same class.

    And then there are the environmental benefits.

    It has been designed and built by Canadian company Vision Marine Technologies,

    Vision says it will be able to produce up to 300 units annually at a cost that is 70% lower than fibreglass alternatives, with potential scalability to 1,500 units per year.

    Phantom has a high-density polyethylene hull said to be both strong and environmentally friendly, capable of being recycled up to nine times.

    Vision say it offers entry-level ownership and can support both electric and liquid fuel motors, appealing to eco-conscious and traditional boaters alike.

    It is seen as filling the market for fishing and leisure.

    Yacht owners could also use it as a tender.

    Vision is offering the Phantom without a motor for $14,995 USD / €13.870 euros.

    The standard electric version is $24,995 USD / €23.115 euros and offers up to an estimated five hours of on-water runtime.

    A $29,995 USD / €27.735 euros version offers extended-range and doubles the estimate to ten hours.

    OPS: The Phantom

    Picture supplied by Ferrari

    (FOTO: DUKAS/FERRARI PRESS)

     

  • New speed boat has  hull that can be recycled
    DUKAS_166340268_FER
    New speed boat has hull that can be recycled
    Ferrari Press Agency
    Phantom 1
    Ref 15599
    22/02/2024
    See Ferrari text
    Pictures must credit: Vision Marine Technologies

    A plastic boat with a hull that can be recycled up to nine times, is ready to make a splash.

    The Phantom has been designed to comfortably seat up to ten passengers.

    But its construction means it is cheaper to build and therefore sell than typical vessels of the same class.

    And then there are the environmental benefits.

    It has been designed and built by Canadian company Vision Marine Technologies,

    Vision says it will be able to produce up to 300 units annually at a cost that is 70% lower than fibreglass alternatives, with potential scalability to 1,500 units per year.

    Phantom has a high-density polyethylene hull said to be both strong and environmentally friendly, capable of being recycled up to nine times.

    Vision say it offers entry-level ownership and can support both electric and liquid fuel motors, appealing to eco-conscious and traditional boaters alike.

    It is seen as filling the market for fishing and leisure.

    Yacht owners could also use it as a tender.

    Vision is offering the Phantom without a motor for $14,995 USD / €13.870 euros.

    The standard electric version is $24,995 USD / €23.115 euros and offers up to an estimated five hours of on-water runtime.

    A $29,995 USD / €27.735 euros version offers extended-range and doubles the estimate to ten hours.

    OPS: The Phantom is available in a range of colours

    Picture supplied by Ferrari

    (FOTO: DUKAS/FERRARI PRESS)

     

  • New speed boat has  hull that can be recycled
    DUKAS_166340266_FER
    New speed boat has hull that can be recycled
    Ferrari Press Agency
    Phantom 1
    Ref 15599
    22/02/2024
    See Ferrari text
    Pictures must credit: Vision Marine Technologies

    A plastic boat with a hull that can be recycled up to nine times, is ready to make a splash.

    The Phantom has been designed to comfortably seat up to ten passengers.

    But its construction means it is cheaper to build and therefore sell than typical vessels of the same class.

    And then there are the environmental benefits.

    It has been designed and built by Canadian company Vision Marine Technologies,

    Vision says it will be able to produce up to 300 units annually at a cost that is 70% lower than fibreglass alternatives, with potential scalability to 1,500 units per year.

    Phantom has a high-density polyethylene hull said to be both strong and environmentally friendly, capable of being recycled up to nine times.

    Vision say it offers entry-level ownership and can support both electric and liquid fuel motors, appealing to eco-conscious and traditional boaters alike.

    It is seen as filling the market for fishing and leisure.

    Yacht owners could also use it as a tender.

    Vision is offering the Phantom without a motor for $14,995 USD / €13.870 euros.

    The standard electric version is $24,995 USD / €23.115 euros and offers up to an estimated five hours of on-water runtime.

    A $29,995 USD / €27.735 euros version offers extended-range and doubles the estimate to ten hours.

    OPS: The Phantom

    Picture supplied by Ferrari

    (FOTO: DUKAS/FERRARI PRESS)

     

  • New speed boat has  hull that can be recycled
    DUKAS_166340265_FER
    New speed boat has hull that can be recycled
    Ferrari Press Agency
    Phantom 1
    Ref 15599
    22/02/2024
    See Ferrari text
    Pictures must credit: Vision Marine Technologies

    A plastic boat with a hull that can be recycled up to nine times, is ready to make a splash.

    The Phantom has been designed to comfortably seat up to ten passengers.

    But its construction means it is cheaper to build and therefore sell than typical vessels of the same class.

    And then there are the environmental benefits.

    It has been designed and built by Canadian company Vision Marine Technologies,

    Vision says it will be able to produce up to 300 units annually at a cost that is 70% lower than fibreglass alternatives, with potential scalability to 1,500 units per year.

    Phantom has a high-density polyethylene hull said to be both strong and environmentally friendly, capable of being recycled up to nine times.

    Vision say it offers entry-level ownership and can support both electric and liquid fuel motors, appealing to eco-conscious and traditional boaters alike.

    It is seen as filling the market for fishing and leisure.

    Yacht owners could also use it as a tender.

    Vision is offering the Phantom without a motor for $14,995 USD / €13.870 euros.

    The standard electric version is $24,995 USD / €23.115 euros and offers up to an estimated five hours of on-water runtime.

    A $29,995 USD / €27.735 euros version offers extended-range and doubles the estimate to ten hours.

    OPS: The Phantom

    Picture supplied by Ferrari

    (FOTO: DUKAS/FERRARI PRESS)

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237534_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    An employee plastic wraps microwaves and loaded on pallets at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237597_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Piles of shredded copper at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237537_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Shredded plastic on a conveyor belt at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237583_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Buckets for brass, copper and batteries at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237508_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Shredded plastic on a conveyor belt at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237527_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Shredded plastic on a conveyor belt at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237538_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Shredded plastic on a conveyor belt at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237585_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Shredded plastic on a conveyor belt at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237519_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Computers are plastic wrapped and stored on pallets at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237614_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Cords and cables are piled in boxes at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237592_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Computers are plastic wrapped and stored on pallets at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237578_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Computers are plastic wrapped and stored on pallets at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237533_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    TV’s are plastic wrapped and stored on pallets at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237613_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Aaron Blum, Co-Founder / Chief Operating and Compliance Officer of ERI (Electronic Recyclers International), poses for a portrait at the ERI Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237591_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Aaron Blum, Co-Founder / Chief Operating and Compliance Officer of ERI (Electronic Recyclers International), poses for a portrait at the ERI Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237520_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Employee jumpsuits and helmets at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237530_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Employees socialize at the end of their shift at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237610_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Electronic waste is piled up at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237611_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Aaron Blum, Co-Founder / Chief Operating and Compliance Officer of ERI (Electronic Recyclers International), poses for a portrait at the ERI Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237514_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Aaron Blum, Co-Founder / Chief Operating and Compliance Officer of ERI (Electronic Recyclers International), poses for a portrait at the ERI Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237595_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Aaron Blum, Co-Founder / Chief Operating and Compliance Officer of ERI (Electronic Recyclers International), poses for a portrait at the ERI Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237589_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Aaron Blum, Co-Founder / Chief Operating and Compliance Officer of ERI (Electronic Recyclers International), poses for a portrait at the ERI Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237615_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Super sacks are filled with precious metals (gold, silver and palladium), aluminum, steel, plastic and copper, at finished goods commodity section of the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237517_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    TV’s are loaded onto pallets at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237511_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Employees sort through electronic waste beside the shredder at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237513_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Employees sort through electronic waste beside the shredder at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237516_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    Employees sort through electronic waste beside the shredder at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

  • 'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    DUKAS_156237529_EYE
    'I spot brand new TVs, here to be shredded': the truth about our electronic waste
    In a giant factory in California, thousands of screens, PCs and other old or unwanted gadgets are picked apart for materials. But what about the billions of other defunct (or not) devices?

    Waste electrical and electronic equipment (better known by its unfortunate acronym, Weee) is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Electronic waste amounted to 53.6m tonnes in 2019, a figure growing at about 2% a year. Consider: in 2021, tech companies sold an estimated 1.43bn smartphones, 341m computers, 210m TVs and 548m pairs of headphones. And that's ignoring the millions of consoles, sex toys, electric scooters and other battery-powered devices we buy every year.

    Globally, only 17.4% of electronic waste is recycled. Between 7% and 20% is exported, 8% thrown into landfills and incinerators in the global north, and the rest is unaccounted for. Yet Weee is, by weight, among the most precious waste there is. One piece of electronic equipment can contain 60 elements, from copper and aluminium to rarer metals such as cobalt and tantalum, used in everything from motherboards to gyroscopic sensors. A typical iPhone, for example, contains 0.018g of gold, 0.34g of silver, 0.015g of palladium and a tiny fraction of platinum. Multiply by the sheer quantity of devices and the impact is vast: a single recycler in China, GEM, produces more cobalt than the country’s mines each year. The materials in our e-waste - including up to 7% of the world's gold reserves - are worth £50.9bn a year.

    TV’s are loaded onto pallets at the ERI (Electronic Recyclers International) Recycling Facility. Fresno, Calafornia - May 23, 2023:

    © Philip Cheung / Guardian / eyevine

    Contact eyevine for more information about using this image:
    T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709
    E: info@eyevine.com
    http://www.eyevine.com
    (FOTO: DUKAS/EYEVINE)

    © Guardian / eyevine. All Rights Reserved.

     

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