Europe loses 1.7 billion euros annually to e-waste crime

A two-year investigation by United Nations University and INTERPOL has revealed that 65 percent of electronic waste in Europe is stolen, mismanaged, or illegally traded. This mismanagement results in an estimated loss of up to 1.7 billion euros annually in precious metals for the European Union.

Criminal activity involves the undocumented removal of approximately 1.3 million tonnes of equipment, including laptops, circuit boards, and refrigerators, from the region. Additionally, 4.7 million tonnes of electronics are mismanaged or traded illegally within Europe, leading to the unsafe disposal of toxic substances such as mercury, lead, and cadmium.