PIRG's "E-Waste Graveyard" lists 100+ gadgets dumped after support vanished

HELLFIRE

https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/11/electronic_waste_graveyard/
https://pirg.org/edfund/resources/electronic-waste-graveyard/

Those well-meaning agitators at the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) are back, this time with an interactive “Electronic Waste Graveyard” cataloging a range of devices tossed aside after software support expires or cloud connections flatline. The US-based non-profit has campaigned against the growing tide of electronic waste for years, and its latest effort is an online “rogues’ gallery” showcasing more than 100 tech products that no longer function properly or were effectively junked after manufacturers ended support. Most Reg readers will be aware of the situation with smartphones, which are typically backed by security updates and bug fixes for maybe 2 to 3 years after the release of the device – tough luck if you happen to buy one that has already been on the market for a while. No, they won’t suddenly stop working. However, once the vendor stops patching flaws, it will become increasingly risky to use any internet-connected product. The Electronic Waste Graveyard lists a whole bunch of devices, covering the gamut from laptops to smart watches, car accessories and kitchen gadgets. It calculates the total weight of all the dead widgets, and allows users to sort the list by brand, category and the type of lost support. … PIRG cites estimates that around 68 million tons of electronic waste are dumped globally each year. “The steady stream of e-waste is becoming a flood,” said Andre Delattre, senior vice president and chief operating officer for program at The Public Interest Network. …

Regards

real_aurgathor

I happen to own, or previously owned a grand total of five devices listed on the pirg page. While I fully agree that taking away cloud support from devices that require that functionality really sucks, but discontinuing software updates after 8+ years like in the cases of iPhone 6?!? As far as I concern, that’s in the “you gotta be kidding” category.

To be specific, of the listed devices I have or had the Moto G2, G3, and G4, and I didn’t find the Android updates particularly useful, especially with regards to functionality. The G2 came with Android 5 and with that I could tether the phone on Cricket (AT&T) and utilize my "unlimited’ data. However, once it received the *forced* update to Android 6, tethering would no longer work without paying some extra for that feature. 🙁

All 3 phones were later obsoleted by AT&T requiring “HD voice” ( https://www.att.com/support/article/wireless/KM1046244 ). However, the G4 still works fine with a LycaTel (T-Mobile) SIM.

In comparison, I’ve had some Motorola StarTAC phones before (TDMA and GSM) and for most people. there were no such thing as software updates.

HooRU

I got a Pixel because they offer an additional year of support. As well as that, they recieve updates when new OS versiona come out almost immediately. But my Pixel 7 is acting weird on occasion.

It would be a good thing if makers were required to provide support for about 5 years from release. To me, that would be reasonable. Also, the USA needs to work harder with recycling and not leaving it to third world poor people to deal with toxicity.

dave

And that’s sufficient reason why you shouldn’t buy a ‘smart’ TV, fridge, washing machine, …, or any other major appliance for which the future is cloudy. The eggs-per-basket ratio is far too high.

bennor

LOL had a FitBit Charge 3 from that list. The screen ended up needing to be replaced because of screen fade after year 2, ended up replacing it a year after replacing the screen. Still worked but with FitBit getting bought out by Google the writing was on the wall for their end of lifing the older Fitbit models.

Thane_Bitter

No mention of microsoft, the number one driving force of defects, planned obsolescence, and security breaches. The company that told users it wouldn’t support the product they made because they would rather have you buy the new one instead.

broknsymetry

Thane_Bitter No mention of microsoft, the number one driving force of defects, planned obsolescence, and security breaches.

The report covers 2014-2025, Windows 10 was released in 2015 and older PCs could upgrade to it, so its release did not generate much E-waste. The report does mention the upcoming end of support for Win 10 and estimates that it will result in 1.6 BILLION pounds of waste compared to the miniscule 130 MILLION pounds generated in this past decade.

We also found Windows 10 will expire in October 2025, leaving up to 400 million PCs that won’t be able to upgrade to the next version.

We estimate a minimum of 130 million pounds of electronic waste has been created by expired software and canceled cloud services since 2014. We estimate that the expiration of Windows 10 will result in 1.6 billion pounds of electronic waste from PCs that can’t upgrade to Windows 11.

https://pirg.org/edfund/resources/electronic-waste-graveyard/

Thane_Bitter

broknsymetry Ok but what about all the other versions and the added on hardware people have put into systems to keep them running that bloated system.

Most of the device listed (particularly phones, tablets, laptops) are killed off because the company stops supporting security fixes, this makes them open for exploitation, hell Samsung can’t even push updates out in a timely fashion to its current and supported phones. The consumer is stuck with betaware goods that come with a timebomb attached.