Data Center Rush Could Create ‘Tsunami’ of Discarded Electronics: Why Global E-Waste Could Reach 13 Million Tons by 2030

The Basel Action Network report 'The Coming AI Waste Wave' estimates annual e-waste from AI infrastructure at 8.6–13.1 million metric tons by 2030. Only about one-fifth of such waste is currently recycled, and US data center pollution causes about 1,300 premature deaths and $11.7–20.9 billion in healthcare costs annually.

• BAN forecast: 8.6–13.1 million tons of e-waste per year by 2030
• About 70,000 tons of waste per gigawatt of data center capacity
• Only ~20% of global e-waste is recycled
• US health damage: ~1,300 deaths and up to $20.9 billion per year