By Ross Thompson CEO, Greenbox
Big problems yield bigger opportunities, and electronic waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. The rise in e-waste – caused by the consumption wave of the digital era, lack of e-waste management infrastructure, and short product lifecycles – is outpacing the rise in documented recycling by a factor of almost five, according to the UN Global E-waste Monitor 2024.
The 62 billion kg of e-waste generated in 2022 is like throwing away 1000 laptops every second. Australia produced 580 million kg of e-waste in 2022, over 22 kg per capita compared to the global average 7.8 kg per capita.
Discarded e-devices and components contain materials that are both economically valuable and environmentally detrimental. There are a range of eco-impacts: toxic materials can leach; production of devices depletes precious resources; landfills get overburdened; and manufacturing and disposal of e-devices, of course, spikes GHG emissions. Significantly, e-waste in Australia is growing up to three times faster than general waste.
Australia trails Europe in managing the growing quantity of its e-waste. There is some momentum in the wake of the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme, which has an 80% e-waste recycling target for the 2026-2027 financial year. Notably, the government is working on a mandatory product stewardship scheme to reduce waste from small electrical products and PV systems. In the emergent Australian Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy, ICT is a high-impact procurement category (starting 1 July 2025 for $1 million+ procurements). Also good, the principle of banning e-waste from landfills is supported by all Australian states.
Australia has set itself ambitious targets around emissions reductions and is committed to a circular economy. However, to meet both goals, the way we make and buy products needs to change – and high-value / high impact sectors like ICT can lead the charge. The national ReMade in Australia campaign helps circularity, but we need multi-lever, push-pull systemic change.
This e-waste revolution is about integration of environmental sustainability and economic/social/cultural opportunity. One example, the global refurbished asset market for computers and laptops is expected to reach US$11.8 Billion by 2031, up from US$ 4.7 Billion in 2022.
Here are three e-waste management pathways to accelerate Australia’s journey to a circular economy:
1. Double down on reuse:
One European study found that adding just one year to the lifespan of smartphones and other electronics would save the EU as much carbon emissions as taking two million cars off the roads annually.
Re-use is the simplest circular strategy. Devices that are still functional undergo refurbishment and are reintroduced into the market, reducing new production need and conserving valuable resources. It’s the most environmentally beneficial form of materials management. When reuse is no longer viable, the hierarchy of R2 Responsible Management Strategies calls for maximising materials recovery. R2V3 certification, which our company Greenbox has for its facilities in Australia and New Zealand, wraps a best-practice standard and an independent accountability mechanism around e-waste management recycling.
Circular ICT procurement, such as Device as a Service (leasing vs purchasing) retires linear consumption. DaaS is efficient, flexible and productive. It delivers major environmental benefits, particularly if second life, refurbished assets are used within the model. Greenbox’s IT asset disposition for businesses has prevented over 73 million kg of CO2 from being released, equivalent to about 3.3 million rubbish bags of waste recycled instead of landfilled.
2. Accelerate ICT Green Public Procurement:
This process involves public authorities procuring goods, services and works with a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle compared to what would otherwise be procured. Given the impacts of ICT public procurement, greening more of it is vital. Public sector procurement in Australia adds up to over 17% of GDP, and the government wants to achieve net zero in its operations by 2030.
The benefits of this approach are as economic as environmental. Taxpayers should surely get savings through refurbished assets (over new assets) and use of these savings for other critical services.
European countries lead ICT Green Public Procurement with mandated purchasing of second life/refurbished EUC devices, ranging from 5-25% of procurement spend. It seems right that our taxes should be used to purchase refurbished assets as opposed to new assets for considerations such as State/Provincial/Federal elections, and this should extend across all departments and ministries as is the case in many EU jurisdictions.
Greenbox is urging the Australian State & Federal governments to mandate a floor of 10% circular products as part of large new technology purchases and refreshes to keep up with global best practice.
3. Unleash ambition, innovation and partnership:
The bigger and more urgent a challenge gets, the more you need collaboration – it just gets things done faster. A new CPD report, Green Goods: Strategies for decarbonising government purchasing in Australia, helps show the way.
The reporthighlights the need to engage with suppliers to decarbonise value chains, collaborate with industries, and incentivise innovation. Solid recommendations include targets for greening procurement, measuring baseline procurement emissions, adding low-carbon options to supplier panels and central purchasing agreements, and a national working group or space for collaboration for harmonised and effective green procurement.
The big picture view is clear from our IT asset lifecycle services organisation, which helps entities achieve a carbon-neutral supply chain for IT equipment. The circular economy is moving up business/political/community agendas everywhere, the opportunities on this value curve are gathering pace, and the e-waste revolution won’t wait for Australia.
Ross Thompson is Group CEO of sustainability, data management and technology asset lifecycle management market leader Greenbox. With facilities in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch Greenbox Group provides customers all over the world a carbon-neutral supply chain for IT equipment to reduce their carbon footprint by actively managing their environmental, social and governance obligations.