Re:Bitcoin's growing e-waste problem
by hunter-gatherer on Friday September 17, 2021 @09:26AM
(#28565212)
It would be interesting to have a comparison of e-waste by utility. I imagine this would be impossible without the help of all the consumer electronic producers though. Even then, they might not have the data to tell what you are using your personal electronics for.
Bitcoins annual estimated e-waste: 307 000 metric tons Global annual estimated e-waste: 53 600 000 metric tons
307 000 / 53 600 000 * 100 = 0.57 %
I don't know if the numbers in the linked paper and the following paper can be used together as I haven't read both, but I've taken the global annual e-waste estimate from here as unfortunately the linked paper does not mention it in the abstract: https://www.itu.int/myitu/-/media/Publications/2020-Publicat...
While I do think Bitcoin in its current form is a problem and the developers should start thinking of solutions sooner than later, I think starting with Bitcoin to reduce total e-waste is misguided at best.