Bangladesh Faces Growing E-Waste Challenge as Imports and Device Turnover Rise
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Bangladesh is generating approximately 30 million discarded mobile devices annually, with most entering an unmonitored waste stream. This comes as the country spends billions on imports of electrical appliances, primarily from China, following its own implementation of e-waste management rules. The scale of the challenge is being studied by groups like Transparency International Bangladesh.
Facts First
- Approximately 30 million mobile devices enter Bangladesh's waste stream yearly, with most disposal unmonitored.
- The country imported over $2.47 billion in electrical appliances and accessories in the 2024-25 fiscal year, according to Bangladesh Bank.
- $1.8 billion of those imports came from China, a country that has tightened its own waste import policies.
- Bangladesh enacted the Hazardous Waste (e-waste) Management Rules in 2021 to address the issue.
- A study by Transparency International Bangladesh is using customs data to examine e-waste imports.
What Happened
Bangladesh is confronting a significant and growing electronic waste problem. Approximately 30 million mobile devices enter the local waste stream every year, with most of this disposal going unmonitored. This high volume is driven by an annual sale of about 35 million new mobile handsets and an average device lifespan of just 2 to 4 years. Concurrently, Bangladesh spent more than $2.47 billion on imports of electrical appliances and accessories in the 2024-25 fiscal year, with $1.8 billion of that total coming from China. The country has a regulatory framework in place, the Hazardous Waste (e-waste) Management Rules 2021, and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) is conducting a study using customs data to examine e-waste imports.
Why this Matters to You
If you use or replace mobile phones, computers, or appliances in Bangladesh, your discarded devices are likely part of a large, informally managed waste stream. This unmonitored disposal could potentially expose communities to hazardous materials from items like old refrigerators or medical equipment. The high rate of new device purchases, reflected in the billions spent on imports, suggests this pressure on the waste system may continue to grow, which could impact local environmental and public health if not managed effectively.
What's Next
The findings from the Transparency International Bangladesh study could provide clearer data on the scale and sources of e-waste imports. This information may be used to strengthen enforcement of the 2021 e-waste management rules. How effectively Bangladesh can monitor and process its growing domestic e-waste, while also navigating global shifts in waste trade policies like China's import ban, will be a key challenge for the coming years.