Billions of working smartphones reach the end of their service lives each year and move into drawers, recycling streams, and waste piles. The WEEE Forum estimated that 5.3 billion mobile phones became electronic waste in 2022. Many of these devices still function but are discarded due to security features that prevent data wiping or reuse.
According to a 2025 report by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), global e-waste generation reached 62 million tonnes in 2022, with mobile phones contributing significantly. The report highlights that security features like encryption and biometric locks, while protecting user data, also make it difficult for recyclers to refurbish or recycle devices safely.
Recycling companies often lack the tools to bypass these security measures, leading to devices being shredded or incinerated rather than reused. The WEEE Forum notes that only 17.4% of e-waste was properly collected and recycled in 2022, with the rest ending up in landfills or informal recycling operations.
Efforts to address this include the development of secure data wiping standards and design-for-recycling initiatives. However, progress remains slow, and the volume of e-waste is projected to grow by 30% by 2030, according to UNITAR.
