In a groundbreaking report released recently, Australia’s largest e-waste processor, Sircel, has unveiled startling findings about the state of e-waste management and reporting in corporate Australia.
The study, Plugging Australia’s E-waste Gap, coincides with International E-waste Day and sheds light on a significant oversight in sustainability practices among the nation’s top companies.
The report reveals that a mere 19 per cent of ASX 200 companies mention e-waste in their most recent sustainability reports, exposing a critical gap in addressing the world’s fastest-growing waste stream.
This oversight is particularly concerning given that Australians generate approximately 22 kilograms of e-waste per capita, more than twice the global average.
Sircel’s research, which surveyed 1,000 Australians and analysed sustainability reports from ASX 200 companies, uncovered a stark disconnect between corporate sustainability commitments and e-waste management.
While 76 per cent of these companies discuss Scope 3 emissions in their reports, only one company acknowledged the intricate relationship between these emissions and e-waste.
Anthony Karam, Founder and CEO of Sircel, emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating: “Australian businesses are looking to scale up their sustainability outcomes in a tangible way that delivers big on climate action. However, our research has highlighted a clear gap in how e-waste is being reported compared to other waste streams.”
The study also revealed a significant knowledge gap regarding e-waste among the general public.
Only 52 per cent of Australians surveyed were familiar with the term “e-waste,” and a majority were unaware of its final destination.
Shockingly, 63 per cent of consumers were oblivious to the fact that e-waste is often exported to developing countries for disposal.
In response to these findings, Australians expressed a strong desire for change.
70 per cent of respondents want their e-waste recycled domestically, while 55 per cent support the recovery of precious metals to bolster the Australian economy.
Karam stressed the importance of addressing this issue, stating: “To continue to ignore the valuable commodities locked up in e-waste — instead sending this perceived ‘rubbish’ to landfill or worse, offshore, is a cheaper and more convenient option, but the benefits are short-term, and it will only snowball.”
As Australia grapples with projections of e-waste reaching 657,000 tonnes by 2030, the report serves as a wake-up call for both corporations and consumers.
It underscores the urgent need for improved education, reporting, and management of e-waste to align with the country’s broader sustainability goals and transition to a circular economy.
