Marissa Heffernan started working for Resource Recycling in January 2022 after spending several years as a reporter at a daily newspaper in Southwest Washington. After developing a special focus on recycling policy, they are also the editor of the monthly newsletter Policy Now. Heffernan can be contacted at [email protected].
Electronics related bills both passed and died this month across the U.S. as legislative sessions wind down. | Vietnam Stock Photos/Shutterstock
Governors in Washington and Nebraska signed e-scrap bills into law recently, giving Washingtonians the right to repair their consumer electronics and Nebraskans an extended producer responsibility program for batteries. Continue Reading
The Secure E-waste Export and Recycling Act has been introduced at least six times since 2015, as well as included in other bills, but has not yet passed. | MOLPIX/Shutterstock
A federal bill that would restrict U.S. exports of e-scrap has re-emerged, this time as HB 2998. Continue Reading
SB 163, which would set up an extended producer responsibility program for batteries in Colorado, passed both chambers and is now on the governor’s desk. | Chepko-Danil-Vitalevich/Shutterstock
Colorado is adding extended producer responsibility for another material stream to its state laws, this time for batteries.
As Oregon prepares for the start of its modernized e-scrap recycling program, prospective producer responsibility organizations must submit plans by July 1. | photka/Shutterstock
Ahead of the start of Oregon’s updated e-scrap recycling program in 2026, the state Department of Environmental Quality published a timeline of important dates.
Hawai’i lawmakers added more devices to the 2008 e-scrap program via SB 1298. | lkonya/Shutterstock
Hawai’i added a host of new electronic devices and peripherals to its existing e-scrap law this year, also giving manufacturers more time to reach a 70% recycling and reuse target. Continue Reading
Iron Mountain reported $1.6 billion in revenue for the first quarter, an increase of 7.8% compared to the same period last year, and Echo saw sales growth jump by 8.8% on the year. | JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock
Recent earnings reports from Iron Mountain and ITAD company Echo’s parent company showed overall growth and pointed to headwinds in data center decommissioning and personal devices. Continue Reading
The updated Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool program criteria focuses on environmental and human rights requirements, such as transparent supply chains. | Chayanuphol/Shutterstock
The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool program rolled out new criteria for sustainable electronics, increasing focus on environmental and human rights requirements. Continue Reading
Former employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development were told they would not be required to physically turn in their work devices. | -People Image Studio/Shutterstock
The U.S. government decided not to have recently fired workers return federally issued electronics, instead noting they will be “remotely sanitized,” despite the potentially sensitive information the laptops, tablets and phones may contain. Continue Reading
Courtesy of Photo Lab
In April, readers were drawn to stories about iFixit and Back Market’s partnership, details on Camston Wrather’s bankruptcy case and laws on solar panels and the right to repair in Washington. Rare earth recycling and Li-Cycle’s need for more funding also caught reader attention.
CalRecycle adjusts the amounts paid to recyclers to cover the average net costs of collecting and recycling covered products every year. | Anake Seenadee/Shutterstock
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery has proposed increasing some payment rates for processors who participate in the state e-scrap program. Continue Reading