Windows 10 losing support will lead to “millions” of obsolete devices and £1.8bn of e-waste in the UK alone, experts say
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We’re incredibly close to the end-of-life for Windows 10. Microsoft announced long ago that the operating system will lose support on October 14, 2025, which means there is around a week until millions of devices are affected. Estimates from WEEE waste experts in the UK reveal a total cost of over £1.8 billion in e-waste as a result of Microsoft ending support.
If you don’t have the hardware requirements to simply upgrade to Windows 11, that puts you in a predicament. There are ways to extend support for free in the European Economic Area (EEA), at least for security updates, but end-of-life is inevitable after over 10 years of service from Windows 10. For reference, the UK is no longer part of the EEA and does not get this extension.
How much e-waste will Windows 10 end of support cause?
400 million devices are expected to be affected globally, with the UK's share of the global PC market sitting at 3.6%. This could result in 14.4 million obsolete PCs in the UK.
Source: BusinessWaste.co.uk
| Material | Estimated Recovery Weight (KG) | Estimated Recovery Value (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | 12,750,000 | £98,812,500 |
| Gold | 18,730 | £1,677,322,825 |
| Silver | 30,130 | £32,860,678 |
| Other precious metals | 6,240 | — |
| Total | 12,805,100 | £1.809 billion |
The recovery weight estimates above are based on “metal recovery rates data from E-Parisara and average device weights” which, in total, amounts to a value that is “equivalent to the weight of 8,537 cars”. These averages count 1.5kg per laptop and 12kg per desktop, with a 70% and 30% share for laptops and desktops, respectively.
As for the estimated value, this data is based on metal prices from Kitco, though it’s important to point out that this does not cover ‘other precious metals’ which may be recovered, such as platinum, palladium, and indium – these would only add to the £1.809 billion of e-waste total.
“When operating systems like Windows 10 enter the end of support, this can become problematic for users, especially businesses. As cybersecurity becomes an increasingly important issue, many consumers and businesses are finding that they cannot afford to take risks when it comes to device security.
While it's important to be vigilant and protect yourself, it's essential that any obsolete devices do not enter general waste streams. This is against UK WEEE regulations, meaning it's illegal, and it can be highly damaging to our environment. WEEE waste recycling is complex and requires expert handling. Some electronic equipment and appliances can contain hazardous materials and it's vital these are separated.
With the mass scale of e-waste likely to be generated by the Windows 10 shutdown, we're urging the public and businesses to ensure any old devices are handled correctly to avoid an environmental catastrophe.”
Mark Hall, WEEE expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk
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