Back to Top

Author Archives: Scott Snowden

About Scott Snowden

Scott has been a reporter for over 25 years, covering a diverse range of subjects from sub-atomic cold fusion physics to scuba diving off the Great Barrier Reef. He's now deeply invested in the world of recycling, green tech and environmental preservation.

#ESC2025 Speaker Spotlight: Neil Peters-Michaud

Published: October 1, 2025
Updated:

by

From campus recycling crusader to Cascade president, Neil Peters-Michaud has shaped ITAD for 25 years, with Radiohead, Rivian road trips and axe throwing on the side. | Photo courtesy of Neil Peters-Michaud/Cascade Asset Management

Raised in Silicon Valley, Neil Peters-Michaud has built a career at the intersection of environmental advocacy, public policy and electronics reuse. He carried an early conservation ethic into his studies and campus projects at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he pushed practical waste-reduction efforts that paired savings with sustainability.

Continue Reading

Posted in Uncategorized |

Stars of ESC2025 in the Spotlight: Ikenna Nlebedim

Published: September 25, 2025
Updated:

by

From karaoke escapes to magnet samples on his desk, Ames Lab’s Ikenna Nlebedim shares quirks, insights and first-time adventures. | Photo courtesy of Ikenna Nlebedim

When the E-Scrap Conference convenes in October, one of the freshest voices to join the stage will be Ikenna Nlebedim of Ames National Laboratory. He is set to appear on a session exploring rare earth recovery and recycling, a subject that has never been more critical as the industry pushes to secure essential materials in smarter, cleaner ways.

Continue Reading

Posted in In other news |

#ESC2025 Speaker Spotlight: Emily Farrant

Published: September 18, 2025
Updated:

by

Growing up in the tiny town of Guerneville, California, tucked near the Russian River wine country, Emily Farrant was surrounded by gardens, forests and streams. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong fascination with how people interact with the environment. 

Continue Reading

Posted in In other news |

Ex-Glencore chief starts Valor to refine critical metals

Published: September 18, 2025
Updated:

by

Ex-Glencore recycling chief Kunal Sinha launches Valor, a New York startup touting faster, cheaper, cleaner mineral processing. | Photo Instagram/Glencore

Kunal Sinha, the former head of Glencore’s recycling business, has launched a metals processing startup in New York, which he claims could reduce both the cost and time required to refine copper and other minerals essential for modern industries. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |

‘Vape effect’ blamed as facility fires hit summer records

Published: September 11, 2025
Updated:

by

Record July and August fires at MRFs highlight the “vape effect” with lithium-ion batteries driving rising risks, Fogelman’s report finds. | Photo courtesy Cocke County Fire Department

Waste and recycling facilities across the United States and Canada saw another surge in fires this summer, with July and August setting back-to-back monthly records, according to Ryan Fogelman, VP of Fire Protection at Fire Rover. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |

Stars of E-Scrap in the Spotlight: Jerry Powell

Published: September 11, 2025
Updated:

by

Few people in recycling carry as much institutional memory as Jerry Powell. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he came up through hands-on operations before realizing the industry’s biggest need was trustworthy information and connection. He went on to found Resource Recycling, Inc., the company behind Resource Recycling, Plastics Recycling Update and E-Scrap News.

Continue Reading

Posted in In other news |

OnePlanet names veteran solar executive as first CCO

Published: September 11, 2025
Updated:

by

OnePlanet appointed Nathan Arbitman as chief commercial officer to scale US solar panel recycling, with a 2027 plant aiming to process over 2 million modules yearly. | Photo courtesy of OnePlanet

OnePlanet Solar Recycling, based in Jacksonville, Florida, has appointed Nathan Arbitman as its first chief commercial officer, as the company moves to scale solar panel recycling operations. The announcement follows OnePlanet’s $7 million seed round and plans for a $90 million industrial facility in Florida. Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged |

Australia opens world’s first battery-in-device shredding plant

Published: September 11, 2025
Updated:

by

EcoBatt, part of the EcoCycle Group, is opening a Melbourne plant to recover in-device batteries. | Photo Courtesy of Gloyd Recycling Solutions

A new Battery-in-Device Shredding (BIDS) facility in Melbourne will start operations shortly, according to its backers, who say the site will tackle the growing problem of batteries hidden in everyday products and the risks they pose when discarded. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |

Assurant sees 60% rise in Q2 trade-in values

Published: September 4, 2025
Updated:

by

Consumers received $1.34 billion from mobile trade-ins in Q2 2025, a 60% jump on the year, as device ages hit a record 3.88 years and AI-capable phones spur upgrade interest. | Karen Poghosyan1/Shutterstock

Assurant’s latest quarterly snapshot of the secondary smartphone market shows a record haul for consumers and a steady rise in device age, suggesting upgrade timing is being shaped by a mix of richer mobile provider promotions and emerging interest in on-device AI.

Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |

Cirba offers compliance advice as battery EPR laws expand

Published: August 28, 2025
Updated:

by

Cirba executive Danielle Spalding urges producers to prepare for battery EPR laws amid fire risks, reporting demands and embedded device challenges. | Windcolors/Shutterstock

Battery recycling company Cirba Solutions is positioning itself as a compliance partner for producers as state-level extended producer responsibility (EPR) rules bring new obligations across the United States.

Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |