The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) and the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) are teaming up to provide real, comprehensive data on the global flow of used electronics.
“The genesis for this is that there is a need for a definitive study that provides data on e-scrap recycling around the world, by region, and also the trade between regions,” said Robin Wiener president of ISRI.
She told E-Scrap News there are a number of e-scrap studies out there, but none of them are comprehensive. Sometimes even the definition of e-scrap differs, making it hard to compare the data.
“We’ll look at what the specific arisings are in each country, how much stays domestically, how much is then exported and where it’s exported and in what form,” said Wiener. “That’s what we’re hoping to do.”
She hopes the study will be able to provide decision makers all over the world with real data to make informed decisions about e-scrap recycling.
She also thinks using an independent third party to conduct the study will ease some of the controversy and disagreement in the industry and provide a narrative of what is really happening.
There is no timeline for the project. Wiener said, right now, ISRI and BIR are exploring how to move forward.
