E-waste Management Market by Method (Recycling, Dispose/Trash (Landfill, Incineration)), Source (Household, Industrial, IT & Telecom, Medical, Consumer), Material (Metal (Ferrous, Non-Ferrous), Plastic), Geography - Global Forecast to 2031

E-waste Management Market Size & Forecast

The E-waste Management Market is projected to reach $114.5 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 8.3% during the forecast period 2024–2031. The growth of this market is driven by the shortened lifecycle of electronic devices, increasing e-waste generation, stringent government regulations for e-waste management, and rising awareness among consumers about improper e-waste disposal. Additionally, the increasing government initiatives for e-waste management and continued advancements in e-waste recycling technologies are expected to create market growth opportunities. However, illegal e-waste dumping may restrain the growth of this market. The lack of a proper disposable/dumping system in ASEAN markets is a major challenge for the players operating in this market.

Additionally, the adoption of intelligent waste management and the implementation of reverse logistics processes a key trends in the E-waste Management market.

Increasing Government Regulations for E-waste Management is Expected to Drive Market Growth

Government regulations often require producers, importers, and distributors of electronic products to adhere to specific e-waste management standards and practices. This creates a legal obligation for businesses to implement proper e-waste management strategies, including collection, recycling, and disposal. In 2022, it is estimated that we generate around ~40  million tons of electronic waste every year worldwide, which is equivalent to ~800 laptops disposed of every second, and e-waste now comprises 70% of our overall toxic waste. This high volume of e-waste generated globally underscores the importance of implementing robust e-waste management systems as it poses significant environmental and health risks due to the release of hazardous substances and the inefficient use of resources. Hence, governments worldwide have implemented several regulations and laws to address e-waste management, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programs, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directives, bans on landfilling and incineration, and recycling targets and standards. For instance, WEEE directives set targets for the collection, recycling, and recovery of e-waste. The WEEE Directive is a legislative act that the European Union adopted to address the growing amounts of e-waste that come from electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) at the end of its life. The directive aims to improve the collection, treatment, and recycling processes employed by EU member states in dealing with e-waste. It also aims to reduce the amount of e-waste produced while promoting resource efficiency and raw material recovery.

The Government of India (GoI) introduced the E-Waste Management Rules in 2016. The rules apply to businesses that are generating electronic waste items. The rules specify that businesses should make arrangements for the safe disposal of scrapped electronic items. The rules are administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The E-Waste Management Rules mention the ceiling limit for hazardous chemicals that are used in manufacturing electronic products. The rules also specify the procedure to obtain authorization from the Pollution Control Board for handling e-waste. Such regulations create a legal obligation for businesses to manage their e-waste responsibly, leading to increased demand for e-waste management services from companies seeking compliance with the regulations.

Furthermore, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), enacted in 1976 in the U.S., empowers the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate the management of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, including the rapidly expanding stream of electronic discards. The EPA sets standards for the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste to protect human health and the environment. Such regulations create a demand for e-waste management services from companies seeking to ensure compliance with RCRA requirements and avoid penalties or fines for non-compliance. All such factors, along with the increasing demand for specialized e-waste management services and facilities to ensure compliance with regulatory standards, are supporting the market growth.

Some of the developments in this market space are as follows:

• In March 2023, Bharat Petroleum  Corporation Limited (BPCL) (India) launched the special initiative "Sound Management of Waste Disposal (SMWD)” as part of its sustainability efforts to reduce and recycle e-waste. The company is working towards achieving Zero waste-to-landfill certification at all operating refineries and marketing locations by 2025.
• In July 2022, the County of Madera (U.S.) announced a collaboration with Redrock Environmental Group (U.S.) and Electronic Recyclers International, Inc. (ERI) (U.S.) to provide Madera County residents with a convenient way to responsibly recycle unwanted consumer electroni as part of the county’s free Electronic Waste Drop Off event.
• In April 2022, Call2Recycle, Inc. (U.S.) partnered with CellBlock FCS, LLC (U.S.) and Electronic Recyclers International, Inc. (ERI) (U.S.) to launch One Drum, the first mixed consumer battery collection product in the market. The solution allows customers to place and transport large volumes of consumer single-use and rechargeable batteries in one convenient container, eliminating the need to sort by chemistry or individually bag or tape battery terminals.

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Key Findings in the E-waste Management Market Study:

In 2024, the Recycling & Reuse Segment is Expected to Dominate the E-waste Management Market

Based on method, the global e-waste management market is broadly segmented into recycling & reuse and dispose/trash. The dispose/trash segment is further segmented into landfill and incineration. In 2024, the recycling & reuse segment is expected to account for the largest share of the global e-waste management market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to the increasing need to recover valuable materials such as metals (e.g., gold, silver, copper) and plastics for reuse in the manufacturing of new products, increasing need to comply with recycling targets and recycling standards, and growing need to conserve natural resources, reduce energy consumption, and minimize pollution compared to disposal methods like landfilling or incineration. The segment is also projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

In 2024, the Consumer Electronics Segment is Expected to Dominate the E-waste Management Market

Based on waste source, the global e-waste management market is broadly segmented into household appliances, IT & telecom equipment, consumer electronics (CE), industrial electronics (IE), medical equipment, and other waste sources. In 2024, the consumer electronics (CE) segment is expected to account for the largest share of the global e-waste management market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to the growing awareness about the environmental impact of improper e-waste disposal, frequent upgrades and replacements of consumer electronics, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, and gaming consoles, the growing shift toward a circular economy to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency, and increasing government regulations and policies aimed at reducing e-waste.

However, the household appliances segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to the growing consumer demand for household appliances due to rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles, growing awareness about the environmental impact of improper appliance disposal, including the release of hazardous substances, and increasing disposal of old appliances to upgrade to newer and more energy-efficient models.

In 2024, the Metals Segment is Expected to Dominate the E-waste Management Market

Based on material, the global e-waste management market is broadly segmented into metals, plastic & resins, and other materials. The metals segment is further segmented into non-ferrous metals and ferrous metals. In 2024, the metals segment is expected to account for the largest share of the global e-waste management market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to the increasing demand for metals in various industries, including electronics manufacturing, automotive, and construction, increasing prices of metals, the growing need to reduce the environmental footprint associated with metal production, the growing need to recover valuable resources found in electronic waste (e-waste) including gold, silver, copper, aluminum, and palladium.

However, the plastic & resins segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to the increasing need to recover valuable materials found in electronic devices, including ABS, PVC, and PP, increasing need to reduce the amount of plastic waste disposed of in landfills or incinerators, the growing shift towards a circular economy model, Advancements in plastic recycling technologies, and increasing government regulations and policies aimed at reducing plastic waste and promoting recycling.

Asia-Pacific to be the Fastest Growing Regional Market

Based on geography, the global e-waste management market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Asia-Pacific is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to the proliferation of electronic devices such as smartphones, computers, and household appliances, rising concerns regarding depleting precious and rare earth metals, growing consumer electronics industry, growing implementation of policies and initiatives to reduce the amount of e-waste and toxic substances in the environment, increasing technological advancements and innovation in the electronics industry, and growing awareness and concern for environmental sustainability in the APAC region.

E-waste Management Market: Competitive Analysis

The report includes a competitive landscape based on an extensive assessment of the key growth strategies adopted by the leading market participants in the e-waste management market in the last three to four years. The key players profiled in the e-waste management market report are Electronic Recyclers International, Inc. (ERI) (U.S.), Aurubis Ag (Germany), Sims Limited (U.S.), Umicore (Belgium), Mangalam ECS Environment Pvt. Ltd. (India), Boliden Group (Sweden), Tetronics Environmental Technology Company (U.K.), TRIPLE M METAL LP (Canada) (A subsidiary of Giampaolo Group Inc.), Enviro-Hub Holdings Ltd. (Singapore), Stena Metall Group (Sweden), Capital Environment Holdings Limited (Hong Kong), AMP Robotics Corporation (U.S.), Sembcorp Industries Ltd (Singapore), Tes Global Limited (U.K.), and Veolia (France).

E-waste Management Market Report Summary:

Key questions answered in the e-waste management market report: