A new report from the Basel Action Network (BAN), a non-profit environmental organization, warns that the rapid expansion of data centers to support artificial intelligence (AI) could lead to a dramatic increase in electronic waste, or e-waste. The report estimates that AI-related e-waste could triple the world’s annual e-waste production in the next 25 years. This waste includes toxic substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium, as well as valuable metals that are difficult to recover. The report suggests that the amount of e-waste generated by AI could be enough to fill shipping containers encircling the Earth six times. Currently, there is no comprehensive plan to manage this growing waste stream. Jim Puckett, co-founder of BAN, noted that electronic waste is the fastest-growing waste type globally, with only 20% of it being properly recycled or disposed of. Vince Beiser, author of Power Metals, highlighted that the U.S. is struggling with e-waste management, with much of it ending up in landfills or being exported, potentially polluting water and soil with harmful chemicals. The report highlights that nearly 5,000 new data centers are under construction in the U.S., many of which are expected to support AI operations. These data centers require vast amounts of infrastructure, including servers, cooling systems, and energy storage equipment. The report calculated the weight of this equipment, including server racks weighing over 1,300 kilograms each and extensive copper cabling. These components are not designed for repair or reuse and are expected to be replaced every two to five years. Additionally, the report projects that the demand for computing power will force the replacement of consumer electronics like computers, phones, and telecommunications gear at an accelerated rate. The environmental and health impacts of this trend are becoming a growing concern. While opposition to data center construction has focused on their energy and land use, the report emphasizes the long-term pollution risks. A group of experts recently urged the federal government to commit to protecting public health from the potential consequences of AI development. They estimated that air pollution from the electricity needed to power data centers could lead to hundreds of thousands of new asthma cases and up to 1,300 premature deaths annually in the U.S. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has taken steps to reduce environmental regulations, potentially making it easier for the tech industry to expand without strict oversight. A 2025 McKinsey & Company report estimated that nearly $7 trillion will be spent globally over the next five years to build the infrastructure needed for AI. BAN’s report notes that this sum could be used to end world hunger for 75 years. It concludes that individuals are increasingly becoming part of this AI-driven economy, often without awareness of the environmental and health consequences.