A Growing Global Challenge
As the global demand for smartphones, electric vehicles, solar panels, and other technologies continues to rise, so does the need for the materials that power them. International E-waste Day this year focuses on Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) – rare elements essential for creating these technologies and often mined in only a few countries. CRMs such as copper or nickel are vital to modern technologies such as smartphones, but these materials can also be recovered from old or broken electronics stored in homes.
It is estimated that by 2050, there will be more than 130 million metric tons of e-waste produced per year, containing precious metals such as gold, copper, and nickel. The level of e-waste far outstrips current capacities to properly manage it in an environmentally sound manner, as outlined in the Basel Convention.
A Global Partnership for E-Waste Education
The Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions, together with partners – the European Institute for Innovation and Technology’s RawMaterials Knowledge and Innovation Community (EIT RawMaterials – Academy), the university KU Leuven (KUL) in Belgium, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Resources Forum (WRF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) – are proud to launch an updated Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on the E-waste challenge, available in English and Spanish.
The updated MOOC includes new materials and a course on the conformity assessment of e-waste standards. It is aimed at students, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, entrepreneurs, recyclers, and government officials. The MOOC invites participants to become part of the solution to this growing problem. Relevant for developed and developing countries alike, the programme covers all aspects of e-waste, turning the threat of this global waste stream into an opportunity. The course is organized into five mini-courses, which can be completed independently.
Education is one of the most powerful tools to address the global e-waste challenge. Through the MOOC, we want to empower students, policymakers, and practitioners to see e-waste not as a burden but as an opportunity for innovation and sustainability. At the World Resources Forum, we were proud to contribute to two courses that build on our longstanding engagement in addressing e-waste challenges.
Course Overview
This course helps participants to manage e-waste responsibly and take action in their lives, businesses, or organizations.
Tackle e-waste challenges by understanding its dangers and implementing solutions to protect future generations.
Explore how smart design, policy, and global action can reduce the impact of e-waste.
Explore e-waste challenges and discover how sustainable and inclusive recycling transforms waste into opportunity.
Explore the role of standards and audits in responsible e-waste management and environmental protection.
Live Webinars
Each of the five mini-courses is introduced by a webinar. WRF is hosting two of them:
Course 4: Inclusive and sustainable e-waste recycling: Global solutions for a growing problem
18 Nov 2025 — 10:00 (EN) / 15:00 (ES)
Webinar registration
Course 5: E-Waste Management Standardization and Conformity Assessment
27 Nov 2025 — 10:00 (EN) / 15:00 (ES)
Webinar registration
Further information
For more information on E-Waste and the MOOC:
- Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions: asana.greenstreet-tommasino@un.org
- International Telecommunication Union: matthew.dalais@itu.int
- World Resources Forum: rebecca.suhner@wrforum.org