Colin Staub is a reporter at Resource Recycling. He can be contacted at [email protected].
ERI reintroduced 120.39 million pounds of commodities into the economy and processed 3.6 million pounds of electronics for reuse in 2023. | SibFilm/Shutterstock
Of the 124 million pounds of e-scrap nationwide processor ERI collected last year, 97% was processed for commodity recovery and the remaining 3% went to reuse. That was one takeaway from the company’s latest sustainability report. Continue Reading
Basel Action Network and Sustainable Electronics Recycling International have put aside their long-standing differences to help U.S. members comply with the Basel Convention. | Mayday6510/Shutterstock
Upcoming changes to the Basel Convention are likely to disrupt some industry practices when they take effect next year. But the changes have already had one remarkable impact: They’ve brought together two often rival certification organizations to advocate for industry-wide compliance with the new rules. Continue Reading
Whistleblowers are invited to report a variety of poor recycling practices in the e-scrap industry. | GaudiLab/Shutterstock
The Basel Action Network this week rolled out a confidential reporting website seeking to make it easier for observers to report poor e-scrap management practices, such as questionable exports of devices and e-plastics, data security lapses and problematic storage or disposal. Continue Reading
Samsung has collected 13.9 billion pounds of e-scrap since 2009. | MilsiArt/Shutterstock
Samsung collected 1.3 billion pounds of end-of-life electronics last year, its largest ever single-year global collection figure. Continue Reading
Verizon is entering the ITAD business with a new program, Verizon Business Complete. | Elliott Cowand Jr/Shutterstock
OEM Verizon is rolling out a program for businesses to supply their employees with smartphones, to manage those devices during use and to collect and facilitate recycling of the smartphones every two years. Continue Reading
In the collaboration between multiple Austrian research universities, researchers tested a two-stage bacterial process for recovering both common metals and rare earths from the shredded e-scrap stream. | Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock
A team of Austrian researchers have developed what they describe as a “cost-effective” and non-polluting method to recover rare earth metals from electronics, and so far, they’ve achieved recovery rates of up to 85% from the e-scrap stream. Continue Reading
As of June 2024, Arizona landlords of former Closed Loop sites have recovered $10.8 million toward the cost of cleaning up CRT stockpiles left by the company. | Photo from a cleanup plan prepared by Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions.
A number of processors that supplied cathode ray tube glass to multiple Arizona warehouse locations leased by failed downstream outlet Closed Loop Refining and Recovery have settled in a major lawsuit filed by the landlords of the property. Continue Reading
Closed Loop Partners made its first electronics recovery space investment in 2017 with Retrievr. | Hand Robot/Shutterstock
Closed Loop Partners, an investment firm that has moved deeper into the e-scrap world in recent years, recently reported on its current electronics recycling industry investments. Continue Reading
E-Cycle Wisconsin recorded its highest number of collection sites and events in the latest program year, such as this 2022 collection event in Madison, Wisconsin. | Photo by David Nevala, courtesy of E-Cycle Wisconsin
E-Cycle Wisconsin reached a long-sought milestone last year: the highest number of collection sites and events in its 14-year history. Continue Reading
The U.S. Trade Representative’s office recently extended a tariff exemption on shredder parts that wear down until the end of May 2025. | cybrain/Shutterstock
The U.S. Trade Representative’s office has extended tariff exemptions that cover certain shredder components imported from China, drawing praise from the Recycled Materials Association. Continue Reading