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Author Archives: Colin Staub

About Colin Staub

Colin-StaubColin Staub is a reporter at Resource Recycling. He can be contacted at [email protected].

Apple to pay $113 million in battery-throttling case

Published: December 24, 2020
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iPhone charging with Apple logo on screen.

Apple’s battery-throttling controversy has helped fuel right-to-repair conversations.| Attila Fodemesi/Shutterstock

Apple has agreed to settle allegations that the company concealed iPhone battery problems rather than informing customers or replacing the batteries.

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Groups question US-Canada Basel plastics arrangement

Published: December 17, 2020
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Cargo shipping containers.

Because the U.S. is not a party to the Basel Convention, exports to the 180-plus countries that are parties to the convention will be more complicated, or may even be prohibited by local laws. | AnkaFed/Shutterstock

The U.S. government has made public an agreement with Canada to continue shipments of scrap plastic, including e-plastics, despite global regulations tightening next year. Environmental advocates are troubled by the deal.

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US-based equity firm buys Ingram Micro for $7.2 billion

Published: December 17, 2020
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Keyboard focused on a green "Acquisition" button.

Beverly Hills, Calif.-headquartered Platinum Equity purchased Ingram Micro for about $1.2 billion more than it sold for in 2016. | YuRi Photolife/Shutterstock

Electronics distributing giant Ingram Micro will be acquired by Platinum Equity, but the company does not anticipate significant changes to its ITAD division.

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Copper prices approach eight-year high

Published: December 10, 2020
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Closeup of a circuit board with copper.

Some analysts predict copper prices will increase close to their 2011 record, when the metal was trading for more than $4.50 per pound. | Syafiq Adnan/Shutterstock

Prices for a major metal found in the electronics recycling stream have climbed high in recent weeks, largely driven by China’s economic recovery following its COVID-19 lockdown.

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E-scrap generation on the decline, study finds

Published: December 10, 2020
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Various electronics gathered for recycling.

E-scrap generation, by weight, is down by almost 10% compared with its peak in 2015. | DAMRONG RATTANAPONG/Shutterstock

The weight of electronics entering the recycling stream has dropped consistently since hitting its peak in 2015, according to new research. The shift has implications for device processing and policy development.

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Former president of CRT processor sentenced to prison

Published: December 3, 2020
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Court gavel resting on a book.

For years, 5R stockpiled millions of pounds of CRT glass in two states – and hid the violations from regulators and auditors – before the company failed. | Evlakhov Valeriy/Shutterstock

After admitting to his role in a CRT-stockpiling scheme and his company’s legal troubles, an executive at defunct 5R Processors has been ordered to serve 18 months in prison.

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Remote work drives another mail-based disposition program

Published: December 3, 2020
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Old laptops stacked together for recycling.

TES processes about 3 million electronic devices per year through its ITAD operations, which serve a variety of commercial clients. | dasytnik/Shutterstock

TES recently launched a device return program in collaboration with UPS, a response to office employees working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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E-scrap recycling rate increased in 2018

Published: November 19, 2020
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Obsolete electronics gathered for recycling.

Figures show a modest increase in recovery and a decrease in generation were responsible for the recycling rate increase. | penofoto/Shutterstock

After declining for multiple years and then remaining flat, the U.S. electronics recycling rate inched back up in 2018, according to new figures from the U.S. EPA.

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