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New research conducted by Sircel reveals how e-waste is not being reported by Australia’s biggest companies in the same manner as other waste streams, Scope 3 emissions or recycling.
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Just one in five (19%) top 200 ASX-listed companies mention e-waste in their most recent sustainability reports.
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70% of Australian consumers surveyed want their e-waste to be recycled in Australia.
A new report commissioned by Australia’s largest e-waste processor, Sircel, has found that only one in five (19%) of the top 200 ASX-listed companies mention e-waste in their most recent sustainability reports, highlighting a gap in how the world’s fastest-growing waste stream is being reported and managed.
According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, The Environment and Water (DCCEEW) Australians generate around 22kg of e-waste per capita – more than double the global average. By 2030, national total e-waste is projected to hit 657,000 tonnes.
Sircel’s Plugging Australia’s E-waste Gap report was released today to mark International E-waste Day and highlights the gap in Australia’s e-waste education and recycling efforts. The report surveyed 1,000 Australians on their knowledge and expectations of e-waste and features an in-depth analysis of the most up-to-date sustainability reports published by ASX 200 companies.
Corporate e-waste gap
While most ASX companies are committed to addressing sustainability and tackling Scope 3 emissions, there’s little to no mention of e-waste in these areas, highlighting a clear gap that needs to be bridged. Sircel’s research found 76% of ASX 200 companies mentioned Scope 3 emissions in their sustainability reports, but only one company discussed the intricate relationship between Scope 3 emissions and e-waste.
43% of the 200 ASX listed companies mention supporting and working towards a circular economy however only 12% discuss the relationship between e-waste disposal and the circular economy. The vast majority of companies mentioned recycling in their sustainability reports (88%), yet only 15% of those that mentioned recycling included e-waste in their definition of recycling.
Sircel Founder and CEO, Anthony Karam, said the report findings come at a critical time when ESG goals has never been more important for corporate Australia’s transition to a circular economy.
“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. 44% of corporate sustainability reports mentioned waste streams but a vast majority failed to include e-waste as one of these streams. That tells us managing e-waste is not yet a boardroom priority in Australia – but as the world’s fastest growing waste stream – it should be.”
Aussie e-waste expectations and knowledge
The research highlights how Australia’s e-waste gap is not just present in the corporate world, the everyday Australian lacks education around e-waste too. There was an almost even split between Australians who knew what e-waste was (52%) and those who didn’t (48%), however the vast majority of Australian’s were unaware of where their e-waste goes. Around 40% of respondents believe their e-waste is sent to landfill onshore, while just 20% of people thought it was sent overseas. 63% of consumers weren’t aware that e-waste is often sent overseas to be dumped in developing countries.
When presented with the facts that Australia is one of the highest contributors of e-waste per capita in the world and how most of this e-waste is sent overseas and dumped in developing countries, Aussie’s were clear on what they wanted to see:
- 70% want their e-waste recycled on Australian shores
- 55% would like to see precious metals recovered and put back into the Australian economy
- 48% of Australians said they want to see less e-waste being sent overseas
Karam added, “With the average Australian generating around 20 kg of e-waste each year, we’re one of the highest contributors of e-waste per capita in the world. We knew the knowledge gap was significant, and that community and business education would be an essential part of our remit – that’s why with this report we decided to quantify and qualify the gap this International E-waste Day”.
“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 a country that prides itself on its abundance of natural resources, now is the time to secure a future powered by a circular economy.”
METHODOLOGY
This research was conducted in September 2024 and engaged 1,000 Australian device users and consumers. The survey was distributed through independent research platform, Pollfish.
We analysed the most recent sustainability reports made available by ASX listed companies. The sustainability reports date from 2020–2024. Where some companies had not published a sustainability report, we analysed the most up to date and publicly available annual report.
ABOUT SIRCEL
Sircel is an Australian-owned and operated green technology company solving the rapidly escalating global e-waste crisis. With its end-to-end recycling process, Sircel is diverting up to 100% of end-of-life electronics – from consumer items to civic infrastructure – away from landfill and extracting the source materials for reuse in the circular economy. Processing larger volumes than all known Australian e-waste recyclers and processors, Sircel has invested tens of millions of dollars into facilities and machinery to date. Now operational across five sites in NSW, VIC and QLD, Sircel is working with more than 50 corporates, councils and waste partners to divert their e-waste from landfill. Sircel has pioneered a unique process that is ethical, sustainable, and better for business, the community and the planet. www.sircel.com
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