A newly formed steering committee has begun planning the 2026 E-Scrap Conference, a three-day event that brings together the US electronics recycling and ITAD sector each year. The conference will take place Oct. 26-28 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, and organizers say the committee will help shape an agenda that reflects the most important conversations in the industry. Registration is set to open in January 2026.
E-scrap sits at the center of the circular economy, where design, repair, policy and recycling collide, and organizers said last year’s conference captured that energy in a way that felt both meaningful and genuinely fun. According to Maite Quinn-Richards, President of Resource Recycling, Inc., the event drew honest conversations, packed rooms and a community that was eager to connect. She said next year’s event will build on that momentum with more hands-on sessions, more networking time and more opportunities for attendees to celebrate together. She added that participants should expect deeper learning, stronger connections and plenty of laughs while continuing to push the e-scrap industry forward.
The steering committee was selected by Resource Recycling, which produces the conference, to ensure that emerging issues, ongoing policy questions, market shifts and infrastructure needs receive focused attention from knowledgeable representatives. Committee members come from every corner of the electronics recovery chain and their task is to help build a program that is both substantive and memorable.
The committee will also advise on bringing exciting interactive and team-building elements to the event. Early ideas have included a brain surgery contest, a nuclear reactor meltdown simulation and a real-time air traffic control challenge. However, last year’s pickleball tournament was extremely popular and drew significant interest, so there is a strong chance that could return.
Committee members include:
- Joseph Clayton of ARCOA Group, who has more than 25 years of experience in e-scrap standards automation and rare earth recovery
- Matthew Young of Electronics Value Recovery brings a background in recycling operations and device refurbishing
- Amanda Tischer Buros of Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations offers expertise in producer responsibility and OEM partnerships
- Cassie Gruber contributes experience in circular design lifecycle systems and industry leadership
- Adam Shine of Sunnking Sustainable Solutions adds insight from both ferrous and nonferrous recycling as well as ITAD operations
- Matt Zieminski brings experience in large-scale repair management product development and operational strategy
- Jennie Gift of i-SIGMA contributes knowledge of secure data destruction and information governance
- Daniel Puckett of e-Stewards offers perspective on certification market development and global program expansion
- Analyst David Daoud of Compliance Standards contributes decades of research on IT lifecycle governance
- Jason Linnell of the National Center for Electronics Recycling brings policy and program management expertise from multiple state systems
- Lila Gloyd of Greenchip adds experience in sales strategy and market development
- From Resource Recycling, steering members include Quinn-Richards along with supporting staff Emily Chapman, Stefanie Valentic and Scott Snowden.
Quinn-Richards said, “Forming an e-scrap steering committee allows us to preserve everything that has made this sector strong while bringing the industry together to guide its next chapter.” She added that creating the committee “just makes sense, because we cannot shape the future of e-scrap without our industry at the table, guiding every step with shared insight and purpose.”
Gloyd noted that she hopes next year’s event brings progress on transparency and compliance and said she also hopes attendees “play pickleball.”
Testimonials from past participants reinforce the event’s importance. Kevin Dillon of ERI said the conference remains essential for staying current on trends and innovations. Chris Hansen of C2 Management said attending has helped his company expand. Renee Schafer of Data Security said the event provides value across education and networking.
Organizers say the 2026 conference will continue the tradition of offering sessions, workshops and a busy exhibit hall to help the industry strengthen networks and exchange ideas.
