2050 Electronic & Electrical Waste Outlook in West Asia

The report ‘2050 Electronic and Electrical Waste Outlook in West Asia’ provides an overview of the electronic waste (e-waste) problem in West Asia and proposes a stepwise plan to help countries manage it in an environmentally friendly way. It identifies that 99.9% of e-waste equipment in the West Asia region is currently unmanaged or mismanaged. E-waste is either disposed of in landfills or handled by the informal sector, resulting in significant health and environmental consequences.

The report introduces two scenarios, the Business as Usual (BaU) and Circular Economy (CE), to project long-term e-waste outcomes in West Asia by 2050. If current practices continue (BaU scenario), the amount of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) placed on the market (POM) in the region will double, as will the amount of e-waste generated by 2050, mostly coming from low- and middle-income countries. However, if a circular economy (CE) scenario is implemented, there could be a 33% reduction in EEE POM and a 14% reduction in e-waste generated compared to the BaU scenario.

In conclusion, the report recommends that substantial investments be made in e-waste management infrastructure, appropriate legislation be developed, strong long-term binding targets be established, and consumer awareness of the issue be raised throughout the West Asia region to unlock the benefits of the CE scenario.