WBUR Podcasts, Boston.

This is on point. I'm Megna Chakra-Bardi.

The numbers are staggering and difficult to comprehend.

Human beings around the world are on track to produce more than 81 million tons of electronic waste annually by 2030.

That's according to the World Economic Forum.

We're talking about smartphones, laptops, TVs, and other devices.

So how much is 81 million tons?

Well, it's 162 billion pounds. Unfathomable, right? So here's a way to

imagine it. A mere four years ago in 2021, humanity threw away 57.4 million tons of electronic

waste. That outweighs the entire length of the Great Wall of China,

all 13,171 miles of it. And every year, we are producing more. The United States is the second

largest producer of e-waste in the world. China is number one. Only 15% of the e-waste we throw away is recycled.

The vast majority of it is thrown into the landfill, incinerated, or shipped overseas,

injected into the bloodstream of the global waste trade. You know that idea. That one man's

trash is another man's treasure, right?

Well, waste brokers buy and sell our detritus for workers in other countries to dismantle, dissect, and extract whatever value they can.

The problem is, when it comes to modern waste, that old aphorism is a lie.

Alexander Klapp explains why in his new book,

Waste Wars, the wild afterlife of your trash.

And he joins us now.

Alexander, welcome to On Point.

Megna, thank you so much for having me.

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