'Mount Rushmore' of G7 leaders out of waste electronics at Carbis Bay

The sculpture, named Mount Recyclemore, aims to highlight the growing threat of e-waste on the planet as leaders of the world’s most advanced economies prepare to discuss how to tackle climate change and build a greener future.

Depicting world leaders including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, American President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the e-waste sculpture has been created by secondhand electronics and entertainment online store musicMagpie, and artist and founder of the Mutoid Waste Company Joe Rush, alongside sculptor Alex Wreckage.

Joe Rush has previously collaborated with the likes of Banksy, Vivienne Westwood and Damien Hirst to create art about environmental issues and is now working with musicMagpie to raise awareness of a more sustainable way to buy, rent and sell technology.

The installation has been built following research that the creators say shows the G7 nations alone produce almost 15.9 million tonnes of e-waste a year, with the US (6.9m), Japan (2.6m), Germany (1.6m) and UK (1.6m) being the worst offenders. E-waste is the term given to electrical equipment that is no longer used but not resold or recycled.

The sculpture has been created by Mutoid Waste Company founder Joe Rush, alongside sculptor Alex Wreckage. Picture: Kathy White

They said in 2019 the UK produced 23.9kg per capita annually – the second highest per capita in the world.

According to the UN, the current 53 million tonnes of e-waste generated annually worldwide will more than double by 2050, making it the fastest growing waste stream in the world.

Steve Oliver, founder and CEO, at musicMagpie, said: “E-waste is a growing problem worldwide and its impact on the environment is significant. If sent to landfills, e-waste can leak harmful chemicals into the soil and water or if incinerated, fumes release chemicals into the air, contributing to global warming.

"Not only this, but everything from our phones to our laptops rely heavily on precious materials to operate, which are not only limited resources, but also directly impact climate change when being extracted from the earth.

“We need to better educate and empower people to make changes today. People can support a more sustainable, circular economy by doing something as simple as trading in or recycling their tech, which will extend the life of those devices and their parts."

Boris Johnson made from waste electronics. Picture: Kathy White

As part of its Mount Recyclemore campaign, musicMagpie has partnered with global waste management charity WasteAid. Throughout June, musicMagpie will give the charity £1 for each piece of consumer tech customers trade in with them.

In addition, sellers will have the option to donate the value offered by the re-commerce platform to the charity. Donations will be used to fund WasteAid’s sustainable e-waste management education programmes in lower-income countries.

Ceris Turner-Bailes, CEO at WasteAid, said: "We hope Mount Recyclemore will bring awareness and demonstrate the impact of waste on the environment to the wider public.

Some of the waste electronics included in the sculpture. Picture: Kathy White

"Helping communities and governments manage their waste properly is vital if we are to tackle climate change and reduce damage to the environment."

Research by musicMagpie found that four in five (79%) Brits do not know what e-waste is and when given the definition nearly a third (31%) didn’t believe it damaged the environment or were unsure, while 45% weren’t aware it impacted climate change.

And almost half surveyed (47%) did not currently recycle, resell, or donate their old tech to charity, with most opting to hold onto it instead where it ended up at the back of drawers or even eventually ending up in the bin.