A Basel Action Network study links US e-scrap brokers to large exports into Asia and urges regulators, auditors and lawmakers to close oversight gaps. | Nattanan726/Shutterstock
Nonprofit organization Basel Action Network released a report attributing surging US e-scrap exports to Southeast Asia to brokers posing as recyclers but acting mainly as shippers, a “hidden tsunami” the group says should trigger regulatory and certification reviews.
Continue Reading
Assurant bought OptoFidelity’s mobile device test automation portfolio to boost throughput, speed refurbishment and support reuse programs across its Device Care Centers. | Courtesy OptoFidelity
Assurant has expanded its automation toolkit with the acquisition of OptoFidelity’s mobile device testing portfolio, a move the company said will accelerate diagnostics and raise refurbishment capacity across its global Device Care Centers.
Universal Recycling Technologies closed its Dover site consolidating CRT work in Wisconsin and focusing on growth in the Midwest, West. | Somchai Som / Shutterstock
Universal Recycling Technologies (URT) has closed its Dover, New Hampshire facility and is consolidating work into its other plants, a decision company leaders described as a strategic refocus rather than a retreat from the region. Continue Reading
Detroit loyalist, global traveler and proud Chapstick collector, John Spagnuolo proves you can take the man out of Michigan, but you’ll never take Michigan out of the man. | Photo courtesy John Spagnuolo
It’s fair to say John Spagnuolo’s loyalty runs deep, to his city, his state, and even his teams. Born about 45 minutes north of Detroit, he’s stayed close to his Michigan roots ever since. “I love the state where I’m at,” he said. “And it’s the perfect time to be a Detroit sports fan: Lions, Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings.”
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.
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.
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.
With roots in policy, a pivot to recycling, and passion for music, ARCOA’s Joe Clayton shows how reuse and rock ’n’ roll can both stand the test of time. | Photo courtesy of ARCOA / Joe Clayton
Raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Joe Clayton has spent a career blending environmental ideals with business pragmatism, moving from grassroots activism to leadership in IT asset disposition.
During Fire Prevention Safety Week, recyclers, regulators and companies spotlight new suppression systems, state policy and public campaigns to cut fire risks. | Mikele Dray / Shutterstock
Fire Prevention Safety Week, running from October 5 to 11, is arriving as recycling operators, policymakers and industry suppliers intensify efforts to confront the rising threat of lithium-ion battery fires in the waste stream.
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.