BAN report: AI e-waste could circle the Earth six times by 2050

The Basel Action Network estimates AI equipment will generate 395–617 million tonnes of e-waste between 2025 and 2050, equal to 15–23 million 40ft shipping containers. The report says 87% of data center hardware is unaccounted for in most figures, with each 1GW of capacity needing about 70,000 tonnes of electronics.

• 395–617 million tonnes of AI e-waste expected between 2025 and 2050
• That equals 15–23 million 40ft containers, or six times around the Earth
• 87% of data center hardware is unaccounted for in typical estimates
• Each 1GW of data center capacity needs about 70,000 tonnes of electronics