Round Table China Why don't we recycle our old phones?
Jun 4, 2025
Smartphones are like family, constantly at our side until a shiny new model arrives, leaving the old one abandoned. Millions of discarded phones in China pose environmental hazards and economic waste. Despite awareness of e-waste issues, many resist recycling due to emotional attachments and perceived value. The podcast explores how psychological factors impact recycling efforts and highlights the need for better practices to make recycling efficient and trustworthy, especially when it comes to protecting user data.
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Huge Phone Waste in China
- There are about 6 billion idle phones in China from 2021 to 2025, but only 10% get properly recycled.
- Over half of phones are stored unused in household drawers due to reluctance to recycle them through professional channels.
Phones as Urban Mines
- Discarded phones contain more gold and silver per ton than traditional mining yields.
- Recovering metals from phones is far more efficient and can supply industries like electronics, jewelry, and aerospace.
Environmental Risks of E-Waste
- Improper disposal of phones releases hazardous substances like mercury and lead into ecosystems.
- E-waste also contributes to global warming through toxic leaching and carbon emissions from incineration.