Environmental pollution

When technology becomes waste

Recycling matters. Extending the life of devices does too.

Ginovaldo Simões · 7 October 2026 · 3 min read
Explanation and opinion

An existing problem

The Global E-waste Monitor 2024 estimates that the world generated 62 million tonnes of electronic waste in 2022. Only 22.3% had documented formal collection and environmentally sound recycling. This indicator does not describe the fate of each individual device or a rate specific to robots.

Europe also has shortcomings

The European Commission's assessment published in July 2025 concluded that electronic waste rules had not fully achieved their objectives. It identified difficulties in collection, raw material recovery, producer responsibility and treatment quality.

A device's useful life starts at purchase

My proposal is to value repairable devices, available spare parts and lasting support. A device that still works may become less useful when it stops receiving support or a part cannot be replaced. These issues should be considered in product design and terms of sale.

Where it ends up matters

Reuse must preserve safety and functionality. Once a device becomes waste, appropriate collection allows it to be sent for specialist treatment. Recycling recovers materials, but does not automatically recover all the energy and resources spent on production.

Sources for this article

Accessed on 7 October 2026. The data and dates refer to the publications listed. Personal proposals are identified in the text.