According to Canalys Research, 240 million personal computers (PCs) would be disposed of due to Microsoft Corp.’s (MSFT.O) decision to discontinue support for the Windows 10 operating system, thus contributing to landfill trash.
Three hundred twenty thousand automobiles’ worth of electronic garbage, or 480 million kg, may come from these PCs.
Even though many PCs would continue to work for years after OS support ends, Canalys cautioned that there might not be much of a market for hardware without security upgrades. Microsoft said that, for an unknown yearly fee, it will continue to deliver security updates for Windows 10 devices through October 2028.
Canalys believes upgrading to a modern PC may be more affordable if the extended Windows 10 support price structure follows previous trends. This would result in more older PCs being sent for disposal.
By October 2025, Microsoft plans to stop supporting Windows 10. The upcoming operating system generation is expected to provide sophisticated artificial intelligence technologies to personal computers, which might stimulate the stagnant PC industry.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the environmental effects of disposing of incompatible Windows 11 devices. Hard drives from servers and personal computers are recycled to collect elements that may be utilized in motors for electric cars and even in producing renewable energy.
According to Peter Afiuny, chief commercial officer of Noveon Magnetics, “converting end-of-life computers into the magnets that power sustainable technologies like electric vehicles and wind turbines will help meet the rising global demand for electricity.”
Hard drives are frequently thrown away before they reach the end of their useful lives, according to Afiuny, which results in excess trash made of rare earth magnetic materials.
According to battery recycling company Redwood Materials, batteries may be recycled almost indefinitely to recover metals, including copper, nickel, cobalt, and lithium.