The Verge Science
16 September 2026
The AI data center e-waste problem is huge — and getting bigger
Why It Matters for ITAD
This industry news may have implications for IT asset disposal and recycling operations.
E-waste from the AI boom has been vastly underestimated, a new report warns. By 2050, it could become enough trash to fill 23 million shipping containers - roughly enough 40-foot containers to circle the world six times if lined up in a row. It's a significantly higher estimate of AI's e-waste than previous studies have […]
Key Takeaways
- • The AI data center e-waste problem is huge — and getting bigger.
- • By 2050, it could become enough trash to fill 23 million shipping containers - roughly enough 40-foot containers to circle the world six times if lined up in a row.
- • It's a significantly higher estimate of AI's e-waste than previous studies have […]
