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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].

AT&T, Compudopt partner on collection, laptop distribution

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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3R Technology working to start up first US e-plastics site

Published: March 6, 2025
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3R’s U.S. facility plans to offer a domestic processing option for portions of the e-scrap stream that are increasingly difficult to export. | Photo courtesy Basel Action Network

3R Technology California is getting ready to open up shop at its first U.S. location in the Southern California city of Riverbank. The company processes e-plastics into clean, separated flake to help keep e-plastics in the U.S.  Continue Reading

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PCs for People expands to Seattle

Published: February 27, 2025
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The Minnesota-based nonprofit provided equipment and support for more than 88,000 clients in 2024, according to its recent annual report. | Zach Lorez/Shutterstock

Nonprofit organization PCs for People recently expanded into Seattle, taking over the operations of what was previously the nonprofit InterConnection. Continue Reading

Illinois electronics recycling opt-in deadline nears

Published: February 13, 2025
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Obsolete electronics gathered for recycling.

The Illinois Consumer Electronics Recycling Act has a March 1 deadline for participation in the 2026 program year. | Penofoto/Shutterstock

With the approach of the annual March 1 deadline to opt into the 2026 Illinois Consumer Electronics Recycling Act, state and national organizers held an information session and provided an update on amendments to CERA legislation. Continue Reading