Electronic Waste Global Market Report 2026

Electronic waste (e-waste) refers to electrical or electronic devices such as smartphones, computers, televisions, and household appliances that have been discarded after reaching the end of their usable life. These devices often contain valuable materials like gold, silver, copper, and rare earth elements, which can be recovered through recycling. Proper management and recycling of e-waste are essential for reclaiming these valuable resources, reducing environmental pollution, and minimizing health risks associated with improper disposal.

The main types of e-waste include consumer electronics, industrial electronics, information technology equipment, household appliances, and telecommunication devices. Consumer electronics are intended for everyday use by individuals and are typically used for entertainment, communication, and productivity in homes or offices. The recycling of e-waste involves various processes such as pre-processing, material recovery, refining, re-manufacturing, and repair or refurbishment. E-waste is categorized by material type into metals, plastics, circuit boards, and glass. It is also classified by the source of waste, which includes households, businesses and corporations, government and public institutions, educational institutions, and retailers or distributors.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs on imported electronic devices and components have influenced the e-waste market by increasing the cost of acquiring end-of-life electronics for recycling, particularly impacting consumer electronics and IT equipment segments. Regions such as North America and Europe, which rely on imports from Asia, face higher operational costs and slower material recovery rates. While tariffs have created challenges, they have also encouraged local sourcing and domestic recycling initiatives, driving innovation in sustainable e-waste processing solutions.

The electronic waste market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides electronic waste market statistics, including the electronic waste industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the electronic waste market share, detailed electronic waste market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the electronic waste industry. These electronic waste market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The electronic waste market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $58.1 billion in 2025 to $62.96 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising volume of discarded consumer electronics, lack of formal recycling infrastructure, increasing awareness of environmental pollution, growing demand for precious metals recovery, rapid technological obsolescence.

The electronic waste market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $85.9 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to implementation of stringent e-waste regulations, advancements in recycling technologies, integration of AI and robotics in e-waste processing, expansion of corporate take-back programs, growing demand for sustainable electronics manufacturing. Major trends in the forecast period include circular economy adoption, ai-enabled e-waste management, smart recycling automation, iot-enabled tracking of e-waste, sustainable e-waste collection systems.

The growing consumption of electronic products is expected to drive the expansion of the electronic waste (e-waste) market. Electronic products include a wide range of devices and appliances powered by electricity, such as smartphones, computers, televisions, and household gadgets. This surge in usage is largely driven by rising urbanization, increasing disposable incomes, and the accelerated pace of technological innovation. As more consumers adopt newer technologies, electronic products are replaced more frequently, leading to shorter device lifespans and greater volumes of e-waste. This has created an urgent need for efficient recycling and disposal solutions. For instance, in October 2023, the GSM Association reported that 80% of global mobile internet users now use 4G or 5G smartphones, marking a rise of 330 million users from 2022 to 2023. These trends are contributing significantly to the growing volume of electronic waste, propelling the demand for sustainable waste management solutions.

Major companies operating in the electronic waste market are emphasizing the development of innovative solutions, such as consumer e-waste take-back platforms, to make recycling more accessible and support environmentally responsible disposal. A consumer e-waste take-back platform is a service that enables individuals to return outdated or unused electronic devices for secure recycling, appropriate disposal, or refurbishment, offering convenience, ensuring data protection, reducing environmental pollution, and promoting circular economy principles. For instance, in July 2024, Attero Recycling Private Limited, an India-based e-waste recycling company, introduced Selsmart, an integrated consumer take-back platform aimed at simplifying e-waste recycling across India. The platform enables users to schedule doorstep pickups of old electronics, guarantees secure data wiping, and provides fair market value for returned devices. The collected e-waste is processed using Attero's patented recycling technology to recover valuable metals and components, reinforcing the circular economy. By combining convenience, security, and sustainability, Selsmart presents a modern alternative to traditional e-waste disposal methods and plans to expand from ten metro cities to nationwide coverage.

In March 2024, GreenBox Group Pty Limited, an Australia-based IT asset recycling and lifecycle management firm, acquired Remark-IT Solutions Limited for an undisclosed sum. This strategic acquisition enables GreenBox to expand its footprint into New Zealand and strengthen its capabilities in handling electronic waste. Remark-IT, a New Zealand-based company, specializes in sustainable technology asset lifecycle management, offering services that align with global best practices in e-waste recovery, refurbishment, and recycling.

Major companies operating in the electronic waste market are Veolia Environnement S.A., Umicore SA, Waste Management Inc., Aurubis AG, Republic Services Inc., Boliden AB, Clean Harbors Inc., Sims Lifecycle Services Inc., Quantum Lifecycle Partners LP, Gazelle Inc., Stena Recycling AB, Enviro-Hub Holdings Ltd., Kuusakoski Recycling Oy, Call2Recycle Inc., Fortum Waste Solutions Oy, Nth Cycle Inc., All Green Electronics Recycling LLC, TechWaste Recycling LLC, HyProMag Limited, Surplus Service Inc.

North America was the largest region in the electronic waste market in 2025. The regions covered in the electronic waste market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the electronic waste market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The electronic waste market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as collection, transportation, sorting, dismantling, recycling, refurbishment, data destruction, and safe disposal of electronic and electrical equipment. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The electronic waste market also includes sales of refurbished electronics, recovered raw materials such as metals, plastics, and reusable electronic components. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Electronic Waste Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses electronic waste market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for electronic waste ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The electronic waste market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Type Of Electronic Waste: Consumer Electronics; Industrial Electronics; Information Technology Equipment; Home Appliances; Telecommunication Equipment
• 2) By Recycling Process: Pre-Processing; Material Recovery; Refining; Re-Manufacturing; Repair And Refurbishment
• 3) By Type Of Material: Metals; Plastics; Circuit boards; Glass
• 4) By Source Of E-Waste: Households; Businesses And Corporations; Government And Public Institutions; Educational Institutions; Retailers And distributors
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Consumer Electronics: Televisions; Radios; Cameras; Audio Equipment; Personal Gaming Devices
• 2) By Industrial Electronics: Measurement Instruments; Control Systems; Power Electronics; Automation Equipment; Testing Devices
• 3) By Information Technology Equipment: Computers And Laptops; Servers; Printers And Scanners; Keyboards And Mice; Networking Devices
• 4) By Home Appliances: Refrigerators; Washing Machines; Microwaves; Air Conditioners; Vacuum Cleaners
• 5) By Telecommunication Equipment: Mobile Phones; Landline Phones; Routers And Modems; Signal Transmitters; Switchboards
• Companies Mentioned: Veolia Environnement S.A.; Umicore SA; Waste Management Inc.; Aurubis AG; Republic Services Inc.; Boliden AB; Clean Harbors Inc.; Sims Lifecycle Services Inc.; Quantum Lifecycle Partners LP; Gazelle Inc.; Stena Recycling AB; Enviro-Hub Holdings Ltd.; Kuusakoski Recycling Oy; Call2Recycle Inc.; Fortum Waste Solutions Oy; Nth Cycle Inc.; All Green Electronics Recycling LLC; TechWaste Recycling LLC; HyProMag Limited; Surplus Service Inc.
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain.
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
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