Komal Habib, associate professor in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development at the University of Waterloo, worked on a study about Canadians discarding still-working electronic devices on a massive scale.Nick Iwanyshyn/The Globe and Mail
Nearly two-thirds of the electronic devices that Canadians replace are still in working condition, a new study suggests.
Research from the University of Waterloo said there is a “mismatch” between how long consumers are using their devices and how long the devices actually last.
“Canadians are generating enormous amounts of electronic waste,” said Komal Habib, one of the study’s authors and a resource management expert at the university.
The study looked at waste from mobile phones, laptops and tablets, desktop computers, televisions, refrigerators, microwaves and laundry appliances in 800 households across nine provinces. Participants self-reported when they purchased their electronics and when and why they disposed of or replaced them.
The researchers found 65 per cent of products were replaced even though they were still functional, and just 5 per cent of electronics were bought second-hand, the study said.
Smartphones and computers have become sleeker and more lightweight, making it increasingly difficult for the average Canadian to fix their own devices without going through the manufacturer.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
The researchers defined functional failure as products that are completely broken – a microwave that no longer heats food, for example. Devices were considered reparable if only a component or two was broken, such as a laptop with one key not working.
Consumers tended to toss smaller devices earlier, the study found. Cellphones had the shortest average lifespan at around 4½ years.
The study estimated that between 2025 and 2030, e-waste from those products is anticipated to climb to a total of 2.3 million metric tonnes, the study said. Prof. Habib said the amount of waste is enough to fill 18 CN Towers.
Prof. Habib said Canada’s consumer economy has become too linear.
“We take the resources, make the products and then dispose of the products after a few years,” she said. “We need to move toward a circular economy where we keep the products in use for as long as possible.”
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Reducing the overconsumption of new devices – which often rely on mining to supply gold and silver components – and subsequent waste could lessen demand for non-renewable resources, she said.
If not properly managed, hazardous materials in e-waste, including heavy metals, pollutants and acids, pose a threat to human health and the environment, the study added.
Her study builds on comprehensive research of more than 100 product types that she published in 2023, which found Canada’s electronic waste had more than tripled over the previous two decades and was expected to continue climbing. E-waste generation per person spiked from 8.3 kilograms in 2000 to 25.3 kilograms in 2020, according to the earlier study.
Prof. Habib takes issue with company deals that urge consumers to trade in working cellphones for newer models.
“But I feel like at times, it feels so tempting,” she said. “It seems so attractive for consumers, given all those promotions.”
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She said it is also a problem that as smartphones and computers have become sleeker and more lightweight, it is increasingly difficult for the average Canadian to fix their own devices without going through the manufacturer.
She said designers should strive to create products that the average consumer can fix themselves and are designed to eventually be repaired.
Beyond Prof. Habib’s own work, she said there is limited large-scale Canadian research on electronic waste, as it can be data intensive and “quite tedious” to study.
She added she hopes dialogue between researchers, policy makers, manufacturers and recyclers could spur an innovative solution.
She supports initiatives like the Ontario NDP’s proposed “right to repair” legislation. The act would require certain suppliers – including manufacturers of electronic products and household appliances – to assist consumers with diagnosing, maintaining and repairing products, including by providing documentation, parts or tools to help consumers or repair businesses.
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Suppliers who refuse or aren’t able to comply would have to replace the product at no cost or refund the amount the consumer paid to buy or lease the product, according to the 2025 proposal.
The proposed legislation said independent repair businesses are especially important in small and rural communities, “where dealership networks are thin or non-existent.”
The “right to repair” act would be “amazing” for Ontario consumers, Prof. Habib said.
Similar consumer protection legislation in Quebec, which took effect in October, requires manufacturers and merchants to disclose whether they will guarantee repair services, replacement parts and maintenance information.
Prof. Habib said Canada should draw lessons from low-income countries, where she said a “huge culture of repair economy” minimizes consumers’ e-waste footprint.
Her advice for average Canadians is not to give in to buying “anything shiny” that is ultimately unnecessary.
“If your phone is working perfectly, why do you need to replace it?” she said. “Save your money, save resources and save the environment.”