Warnings Of Toxic E-waste Tsunami Driven By AI Boom
Muhammad Irfan | Published September 27, 2026 | 12:00 PM
WASHINGTON, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 27th Sep, 2026) The Basel Action Network (BAN), an organization that monitors the global trade in toxic waste, has warned that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence could sharply worsen the electronic waste crisis. According to a first-of-its-kind analysis, up to 617 million tonnes of AI-driven electronic equipment could be retired between 2025 and 2050.
BAN states that this upper estimate would fill approximately 23 million 40-foot shipping containers, enough to circle the Earth around six times if placed end to end. The projected waste includes:
- Computer servers
- Graphics processing units (GPUs)
- Networking and cooling equipment
- Power and backup systems
- Telecommunications infrastructure
- Personal devices
These items could become obsolete more rapidly as AI technology advances, leading to complex disposal and recycling challenges due to the presence of hazardous substances like "forever chemicals."
Jim Puckett, founder, and Chief of Strategic Direction at BAN emphasized that while much attention is given to AI's electricity, carbon, and water consumption, the physical infrastructure supporting this technology often goes unnoticed. He warns that without adequate planning, the AI boom could create a "tsunami" of electronic waste, exacerbating the world's existing toxic waste problem.