the step initiative created a map of the world e - waste in 2012 .
but the biggest producer of e - waste is the united states , with an astonishing 9,359,000 tonnes produced in 2012 , about 29 kilograms per person , according to the map , which was created by a number of agencies through their “ solving e - waste problem ” ( step ) initiative .
the forecast , based on data gathered by united nations organizations , governments , and nongovernment and science organizations in a partnership known as the " solving the e - waste problem ( step ) initiative , " predicts e - waste generation will swell by a third in the next five years , led by the united states and china .
 
 
oslo ( reuters ) - china and other emerging economies have overtaken western nations in dumping old electronic goods , from tvs to cellphones , and will lead a projected 33 percent surge in the amount of waste from 2012 to 2017 , a u.n.-backed alliance said on sunday .
step is run by u.n. agencies , governments , ngos and scientists .
for example , the united states only includes consumer electronics such as tvs and computers , whereas european nations it has been called the “ dirty underbelly ” of electronics .
by 2017 , the global volume of discarded refrigerators , tvs , cellphones , computers , monitors and other electronic waste will weigh almost as much as 200 empire state buildings , a new report .