E-waste collection and recycling rates worldwide 2019, by region
Just 17.4 percent of electronic waste was documented to be collected and properly recycled worldwide in 2019.
Europe had by far the highest collection and recycling rate at 42.5 percent. However, many European countries export e-waste - often illegally - to developing countries. Several of these countries are in Africa, where the recycling rate of e-waste was just 0.9 percent in 2019. The Agbogbloshie dump located in the West African nation of Ghana is one of the world's largest e-waste sites. E-waste that is not disposed of properly can result in toxic substances polluting the environment.
