The Basel Action Network (BAN) released a report on September 16, 2026, warning that AI-driven electronic waste (e-waste) could reach between 395 and 617 million metric tons by 2050. The analysis suggests that annual AI-related e-waste could reach 8.6 to 13.1 million metric tons by 2030, which is significantly higher than previous academic projections.
NewsBasel Action NetworkJim Puckett
AI E-Waste Could Reach 617 Million Metric Tons by 2050, Report Warns
The scale of this increase is attributed to a broader research scope. While earlier studies focused on servers and graphics processing units (GPUs), BAN's full-infrastructure analysis includes power supply and distribution, cooling systems, backup power, and networking equipment. The report also incorporates "AI Waste Contagion," a category covering telecommunications infrastructure and personal devices that may become obsolete earlier due to AI advancements.
BAN estimates that 15 to 20 percent of the global e-waste generated by 2050 will be attributable to AI. Jim Puckett, founder and chief of strategic direction at BAN, stated that the environmental debate has largely overlooked what happens to the hardware itself, warning that without planning, current AI buildouts could result in a cataclysmic toxic waste crisis.
The report also notes the risk of contamination, stating that much of the new AI waste is likely to contain PFAS, known as "forever chemicals." Currently, less than a quarter of the world's 68.3 million tons of annual e-waste is formally collected and recycled, with much of the remainder ending up in informal recycling sectors.
Sources
- The AI data center e-waste problem is huge — and getting bigger （The Verge AI, 2026-09-16）
- press release