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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].

Basel regulations unite BAN and SERI in collaboration

Published: July 18, 2024
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Cargo containers stacked at a shipping terminal.

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

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Watchdog group launches whistleblower platform

Published: July 11, 2024
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laptop user

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

Verizon starts up smartphone ITAD logistics arm

Published: June 27, 2024
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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

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Researchers use e-coli, other bacteria to recover rare earths

Published: June 21, 2024
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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

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Closed Loop CRT settlements in Arizona reach $10.8 million

Published: June 13, 2024
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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

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Long-running Wisconsin program reports record access

Published: June 6, 2024
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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

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Shredder parts excluded from Chinese import tariffs

Published: May 31, 2024
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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

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Lower hard drive demand pushes down Envela’s sales

Published: May 31, 2024
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Irving, Texas-headquartered Envela is a publicly traded company whose commercial segment includes electronics recovery firms Echo Environmental, ITAD USA, Teladvance, CEX and Avail. | borzywoj/Shutterstock

Envela Corporation, which owns a number of ITAD and e-scrap recycling operations, reported lower sales of secondhand hard drives in the first quarter of the year but higher demand for consumer technology devices.

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