A new study from researchers at the University of Waterloo has found that the amount of electronic waste in Canada has more than tripled in the last 20 years. Their study, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials suggests that e-waste is “steadily growing” in Canada. The researchers say in 2020, close to a million tonnes of e-waste generated in Canada while less than 20 per cent of them collected and recycled.

According to the authors, this amount of e-waste is equivalent of “filling the CN tower 110 times”. The researchers say they conducted the study to understand the life-cycle, from sale to disposal, of electronic items in Canada, such as computers, cellphones, toys, refrigerators and washing machines.

According to the study, the amount of e-waste generated per person has increased from 8.3 kilograms in 2000 to 25.3 kg in 2020 and it will continue to increase in the near future. Researchers believe that the growth of e-waste is attributed to consumer habits, as well as the increases in the number of households increases.

To read the full story, visit https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/canada-s-electronic-waste-has-more-than-tripled-in-20-years-study-finds-1.6389995.
Author: 
Hayatullah Amanat, CTV News

Image: Johnathan Hayward, The Canadian Press

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