Electronic waste is piling up across Europe, giving the continent the highest per-capita generation of discarded devices worldwide. Phones, laptops, and appliances often remain unused in homes, or worse, tossed into general waste. Despite recycling rules and infrastructure, many people don’t recycle due to fears over data security or simply not knowing where to take their old tech. With hazardous materials like mercury and lead threatening health, and precious metals like gold and cobalt lost, the stakes are high.
So, which nations are coping, and which are failing? Click on to find out.