Institute of the Environment

On a global scale, the United States is one of the largest producers of electronic waste (e-waste). This has negative implications for environmental quality and public health as e-waste contains toxins such as mercury and lead. There is an absence of federal legislation that manages e-waste, leaving recycling and disposal open-ended and up to the discretion of its owner, with the exception of some state regulations. Poor management of electronic waste therefore degrades various ecosystems and disrupts communities nearby disposal sites due to leakage. Given the rapid growth of artificial intelligence data centers, the amount of e-waste will only multiply in coming years. This brief summarizes electronic waste as a byproduct of data center expansion, identifies consequences of improper disposal, and highlights existing global and state legislation that aim to decrease e-waste.