GENEVA: Around 62 million tonnes of old or unwanted gadgets were thrown out in 2023, enough to circle the Earth in 40-tonne trucks packed full and parked bumper-to-bumper.

The volume of so-called ewaste, which includes mobile phones, TVs and vapes, is "rising five times faster than documented recycling," according to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

The amount recorded in 2023 was over 80% more than in 2010, according to the ITU and UNITAR, who define ewaste as any discarded product with a plug or battery.