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Author Archives: Antoinette Smith

About Antoinette Smith

Antoinette Smith started working for Resource Recycling in June 2024 after spending several years covering commodity plastics and supply chains, with a special focus on economic impacts. She can be contacted at [email protected].

Dynamic, Bloom launch first e-scrap carbon inset registry

Published: May 29, 2025
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Although carbon certificates have existed in other sectors for some time, the new platform tailored for electronics recycling is the first of its kind. | Doidam 10/Shutterstock

European advisory firm Bloom ESG has launched the first carbon inset registry specific to the ITAD and e-scrap sectors, in partnership with Wisconsin-based Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations. Continue Reading

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Right-to-repair initiative in military gains momentum

Published: May 22, 2025
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An April 30 Defense memo echoes recent congressional efforts to allow the military to repair its own equipment, which helps reduce costs. | Bumble Dee/Shutterstock

As part of a broader initiative to increase efficiency, the U.S. secretary of defense has called for the Army to include the right to repair products in its procurement contracts, adding support to previous congressional efforts.  Continue Reading

iFixit launches 2-week circuit board training course

Published: May 15, 2025
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Circuit board close up.

The intensive 12-day course will train professionals in microsoldering and board repair, to help extend device life and ease tariff-inflated electronics costs. | nikkytok/Shutterstock

Although the emphasis on device repairability has risen in recent years, many devices are discarded because of a circuit board failure when they are quite fixable, said Kyle Wiens, CEO of repair firm iFixit.

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AT&T, RGX and Compudopt partner on device collection

Published: May 8, 2025
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The communications powerhouse and nonprofit ITAD are expanding a pilot program for collecting and distributing used devices, using a technology platform from Recycle Global Exchange to connect with local service providers. | Tada Images/Shutterstock

Communications giant AT&T, technology platform Recycle Global Exchange and nonprofit Compudopt are partnering to expand a program for collecting used electronics into more than 100 AT&T stores in the southeastern U.S. Continue Reading

Market factors combine to shift Umicore’s capital plans

Published: April 10, 2025
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The company previously announced it was postponing its new Europe battery recycling plant and pausing construction on its Canada battery materials plant. | Owlie Productions/Shutterstock

Belgian battery specialist company Umicore added on-again, off-again tariffs to a list of economic woes that included slower-than-expected adoption of electric vehicles and a global market slowdown, during a recent capital markets update.  Continue Reading

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Tariff chaos seeps into recycled e-plastics

Published: April 10, 2025
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Shipping

Although on-again, off-again tariffs may exclude resin shipments, market players are seeing no shortage of confusion and consternation. | Avigator Thailand/Shutterstock

After many weeks of shifting narratives and uncertainty, participants in recycled polymer markets are working to navigate a constantly shifting tariff environment, in which buyers and sellers as well as customs officials struggle to align federal mandates with on-the-ground implementation. Continue Reading

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Nashville’s S3 acquires assets of local electronics recycler

Published: April 3, 2025
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S3 Recycling Solutions has a flagship warehouse location in Springfield, Tennessee, along with a recent acquisition in Southern California. | Photo Courtesy of S3 Recycling Solutions

A Tennessee-based ITAD firm has acquired the assets of a nearby nonprofit that recently shut its doors following a five-year run. Continue Reading

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AI-enabled phones could accelerate upgrades: Report

Published: March 20, 2025
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Person with smartphone in their hands.

In its annual report, Assurant found that the average age of returned devices dropped in tandem with the release of the first AI-enabled phones. | Stock Rocket/Shutterstock

With nearly one-third of U.S. consumers expecting to own a phone compatible with artificial intelligence by mid-2025, users could start upgrading phones at a faster pace, according to the most recent industry trend report from insurance and extended warranty provider Assurant.  Continue Reading

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Traceability tools add recycled material trust

Published: March 13, 2025
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Traceability tools can act as a scorecard, providing proof that recycling works and helping counter an often one-sided narrative in consumer media outlets. | 9dream Studio/Shutterstock

Editor’s note: Learn more about traceability technology and many other topics at the 2025 Plastics Recycling Conference on March 24-26 in National Harbor, Maryland.  Continue Reading

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