The global market for Electronics Recycling is projected to reach US$59.7 billion by 2025, driven by tightening recycling norms against the backdrop of rapid technology and replacement cycles of electronic products and the resulting rise in e-waste generation. Currently, e-waste poses the biggest risk to the environment and health with lead, cadmium, chromium, brominated flame retardants and polychlorinated biphenyls representing the toxic materials found in e-waste. With over 75% of landfills containing toxic materials from e-waste, unsafe disposal of electronics is emerging into the spotlight creating the need for more stringent regulations. With over 160 million phones disposed off each year, threat from smart phones alone raises environmental concerns.

With the environmental burden of e-waste outstripping even plastic, there is strong emphasis laid on sustainability and responsible waste management. The market therefore is benefiting from the growing stringency of end-of-life regulations in most countries worldwide; rise in voluntary environmental stewardship among electronics manufacturers; establishment of special collection centers for e-waste; and rise in the number of certified recyclers. Some of the hard-to-ignore social, environmental, and financial benefits driving the emphasis on recycling include reduced carbon footprint; lower consumption of expensive virgin raw materials and the ensuing easing of the load on natural resources; significant reductions in energy required for manufacturing; less packaging per unit; less use of landfills; and proper disposal of harmful waste.

Other major factors influencing growth include focus on sustainable digitalization and resource efficiency; developments in recycling technologies that enable safe processing of hazardous/toxic substances in e-waste and help enhance recovery of rare-earth metals from e-waste; growing popularity and acceptance of hydrometallurgical processing as an effective e-waste treatment technology; the push towards instituting mandatory recycling programs; and government support for the development of recycling infrastructure. Asia-Pacific including China ranks as a major market led by the region's insatiable appetite for electronics; growing international pressure on Asian governments to curb the environmental impact of e-waste generation; and establishment of several policies, initiatives, and collaborative projects for encouraging environmentally sound management of electrical and electronic waste across the region.