Canalys Research sounds the alarm as Microsoft’s decision to terminate support for Windows 10 raises fears of 240 million PCs facing disposal, escalating potential landfill waste. While these PCs might continue functioning post-support, Canalys predicts a slump in demand for devices lacking security updates, potentially forcing users to discard them.
Microsoft’s slated support conclusion on October 14, 2025, comes with an offer of paid security updates until October 2028, albeit without disclosed annual costs. Reflecting on past trends, Canalys speculates that adopting new PCs might economically outweigh sustaining older ones, leading to a surge in e-waste—approximately 480 million kg from these devices.
Though components of discarded computers can be extracted and recycled, concerns persist, especially about the waste of rare earth magnetic materials, as hard disks often face premature disposal.
Source: Reuters