The United Nations warned of an electronic waste 'catastrophe' as annual amounts continue to rise at an alarming rate.

According to the UN's fourth Global E-waste Monitor, the amount of e-waste produced in 2022 reached a record 62 million tonnes, up 82 per cent since 2010.

Footage shows a man rummaging through ashes of burned e-waste in Accra, Ghana where recycling rates are one of the lowest.

The organisation said that the rapid increase in e-waste generation is outpacing the rate at which it is being properly collected and recycled, leading to billions of dollars worth of valuable resources being squandered.

One of the report's claims is that just 22.3 per cent of the year's e-waste mass was documented as having been collected and recycled in 2022.

This leaves a significant amount of recoverable natural resources unaccounted for while also increasing pollution risks to communities worldwide.

Furthermore, recycling efforts are currently meeting only 1 per cent of the demand for rare earth elements.

The report predicts that if current trends continue, the annual e-waste generation will reach 82 million tonnes by 2030, a 32 per cent increase from the 2022 figure.

This poses serious health and environmental risks, as e-waste can contain toxic additives and hazardous substances that can harm human health.

Technological progress, higher consumption rates, limited repair options, and inadequate e-waste management infrastructure are challenges contributing to the widening gap between e-waste generation and recycling efforts.

The report suggests that if countries could increase e-waste collection and recycling rates to 60 per cent by 2030, the benefits would outweigh the costs by more than $38 billion.

The UN report also highlights the world's dependence on a few countries for rare earth elements, which are crucial for future technologies such as renewable energy generation and e-mobility.

This highlights the urgent need for improved e-waste management and recycling efforts to ensure the sustainable use of valuable resources and protect human health and the environment.