Microsoft Ends Windows 10 Support: 240M Computers Could End Up In The Trash

Microsoft recently announced its decision to end support for Windows 10 once the next generation of the widely popular computer operating system, dubbed Windows 12, rolls out in October 2025. 

However, according to findings from global technology market analysis firm Canalys Research, Microsoft’s decision will result in the disposal of approximately 240 million personal computers. The electronic waste generated from these PCs could weigh an estimated 480 million kilograms, equivalent to 320,000 cars, noted the researchers.

All of this electronic waste could end up in landfills across the world, especially in poorer countries. 

Microsoft Ending Windows 10 Support Could Result in 240 Million PCs Going to Landfills

Microsoft originally launched Windows 10 back in 2015. The OS was replaced by Windows 11 in 2021. 

The company has a long-standing tradition of supporting devices that run older versions of Windows. Microsoft even outlined plans to provide security updates for Windows 10 until October 2028 but did not reveal any price details for the extended software support. 

While many computers remain functional for years past the end of official OS support, researchers cautioned that demand for devices without security updates could be low. 

Recently, Canalys examined how often enterprises hold onto older Windows-powered computers and compared it to the historical trend of Microsoft’s pricing structure for extending support for such devices, to conclude that migrating to newer PCs might be the more cost-effective option.

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Environmental Impact of E-Waste and Measures Taken to Minimize its Effects

However, researchers are concerned that this large-scale PC dumping would create a sudden surge in e-waste that has severe environmental implications. Canalys noted in the report that stacking up the estimated million pounds of dead computer hardware would be 600km taller than the moon. 

Electronic waste is considered to be the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. It is estimated that around 85% of e-waste finds its way to landfill sites, where toxic chemicals and metals found in the dead circuits leak into the soil, and contaminate the ecology. 

Efforts are being made to recycle components that could be reused for other purposes. 

For example, computer hard drives could be recycled to obtain materials for use in eclectic vehicles and even renewable power generation. 

Speaking to Reuters, Peter Afiuny, the COO of Noveon Magnetics – a firm that specializes in developing patented recycling processes for magnets, stated that turning end-of-life computers into magnets that power EVs and wind turbines will help meet the rising global demand for electricity. 

He also emphasized that hard drives powering computers and data storage servers are often discarded prematurely, contributing to an excess of rare earth magnetic material waste. 

Meanwhile, battery recycling firm Redwood Materials noted that computer batteries can be “nearly infinitely” recycled to recover valuable metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. 

For some entrepreneurs, e-waste serves as a golden ticket. According to various reports, around $344 million in gold, $46 million in silver, and $10 million in copper are sent to landfills by Americans disposing of their old smartphones and computers every year. 

There is a burgeoning market in e-waste recycling, with several companies working hard to retrieve precious metals from dead hardware. The disposal of 450 million kilograms worth of Windows 10 PCs over the coming years would have a dramatic impact on the niche market. 

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