Once hailed as the ultimate sustainable solution, LEDs are now revealing an inconvenient truth: they are fueling a mounting e-waste crisis. Unlike traditional lamps that could be replaced, most LEDs require disposing of the entire luminaire—creating unprecedented waste streams filled with hazardous materials and lost resources. This episode explores the global e-waste challenge, from staggering statistics and hidden environmental costs to international legislation and recycling innovations. We ask: can lighting’s future truly be sustainable without a circular approach?