Canalys Research warns that Microsoft’s decision to end support for Windows 10 might result in the scrapping of approximately 240 million PCs, posing a significant e-waste threat. Despite potential functionality, the lack of security updates could diminish the demand for these devices, compelling owners to discard older PCs.
Microsoft’s announcement specifies the end of Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025, with a provision for paid security updates until October 2028, leaving the annual cost undisclosed. Observing historical trends, Canalys suggests that transitioning to new PCs may emerge as a more cost-effective choice, potentially flooding landfills with 480 million kg of e-waste from these obsolete computers.
While components can be extracted and recycled, concerns loom over hard disks often being discarded prematurely, leading to an excess of waste rare earth magnetic materials. The industry faces a critical juncture in balancing technological advancement with sustainable waste management.
Source: Reuters