Marissa Heffernan started working for Resource Recycling in January 2022 after spending several years as a reporter at a daily newspaper in Southwest Washington. She can be contacted at [email protected].
The level of activity follows expert predictions that 2024 would see an influx of right-to-repair consumer electronics bills. | Preechar Bowonkitwanchai/Shutterstock
There are over 25 bills establishing the right to repair consumer items in play across the U.S., and more than a dozen of those cover consumer electronics.
Boliden sees revenue drop following a year of lower metal prices and a fire. | Bokstaz/Shutterstock
Metal smelter and recycler Boliden, a major consumer of printed circuit boards, saw lower revenues in 2023 but used slightly more recycled materials. Continue Reading
Many of the exclusions in New York’s bill, which include motor vehicles, power tools, farm equipment and medical devices, were added after the bill hit Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk. | lev radin/Shutterstock
New York was the first state to turn a digital right-to-repair bill into law and industry experts say it will certainly not be the last, though they hope future bills will be stronger.
SB 1596 excludes motor vehicles, off-road vehicles, farming equipment, medical devices, HVAC systems, solar panels or solar energy storage systems, video game consoles, electrical energy storage systems or electric toothbrushes. | bobpool/Shutterstock
A bill to ensure that consumers have the right to repair most electronics and appliances is on its way to the desk of Oregon’s governor.
uBreakiFix by Asurion offers repairs for smartphones, tablets, computers, game consoles, smart speakers, drones and more. | PRNewsfoto/Asurion
Repair company uBreakiFix by Asurion opened another franchise location in Laredo, Texas, offering repairs for consumer electronics such as smartphones, tablets, computers, game consoles, smart speakers and drones. Continue Reading
Umicore’s recycling division saw its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization fall 30% year over year. | Gualtiero Boffi/Shutterstock
Metals mining and smelter company Umicore described its recycling business as “resilient” in 2023, noting it was “below the exceptional performance” of the year before but still above pre-2020 levels. Continue Reading
Geomega Resources and NeoCtech will both receive funding through NGen’s Global Innovation Cluster grant program | Zerbor/Shutterstock
Canadian industry-led nonprofit NGen awarded 86.7 million Canadian dollars ($64.2 million US dollars) in grants for 15 advanced manufacturing projects in Canada, including two rare-earth magnet recyclers. Continue Reading
Logitech is aiming to use more PCR in its electronics. | Hernan E. Schmidt/Shutterstock
Logitech is moving to use more recycled e-plastic in its video collaboration equipment and is offering to share its methods for incorporating recycled materials with other companies. Continue Reading
The 7,800-square-foot Edmonton facility started operations Feb. 1. | Suttirat Wiriyanon/Shutterstock
Canadian ITAD company Quantum Lifecycle Partners opened a sixth ITAD facility, which will provide lifecycle management to the Alberta area. Continue Reading
Teck is looking to add EV batteries to its recycling operations, which already include lead batteries, zinc alkaline batteries and CRT glass. | Sergii Chernov/Shutterstock
Teck Resources, one of the few remaining end markets for CRT glass in the Americas, is considering building an electric vehicle recycling plant. Continue Reading