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Category: News

E-Scrap News magazine is the premier trade journal for electronics recycling and refurbishment experts. It offers updates on the latest equipment and technology, details trends in electronics recycling legislation, highlights the work of innovative processors, and covers all the other critical industry news.

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Survey probes COVID-19 e-scrap impact on enterprises

Published: November 19, 2020
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Hands at work on a laptop.

Most enterprises say they’ve purchased laptops because of the pandemic, and most plan to resell the devices when they’re no longer needed. | Alex Ruhl/Shutterstock

Nearly half of large organizations have created job positions related to managing scrap electronics generated during the pandemic, according to a survey.
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Major OEM settles in Closed Loop cleanup case

Published: November 19, 2020
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CRT materials spilled in the former Closed Loop facilitiy.

Sony’s payment will help fund cleanup of the estimated 160 million pound stockpile at two Ohio facilities. | Courtesy of EnSafe.

Sony Electronics agreed to pay $1.2 million to settle allegations that the company is liable for CRT materials abandoned by Closed Loop Refining and Recovery.

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E-scrap recycling rate increased in 2018

Published: November 19, 2020
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Obsolete electronics gathered for recycling.

Figures show a modest increase in recovery and a decrease in generation were responsible for the recycling rate increase. | penofoto/Shutterstock

After declining for multiple years and then remaining flat, the U.S. electronics recycling rate inched back up in 2018, according to new figures from the U.S. EPA.

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Flexible circuit board separates in recycling solution

Published: November 19, 2020
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Scientist holds a beaker with solution in a lab.

Research into a self-healable, recyclable PCB material was published in Science Advances. | totojang1977/Shutterstock

Researchers at the University of Colorado have developed a thin circuit board material, designed for wearable devices, that’s easy to recycle at its end of life.

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Warranty firm buys phone refurbisher for $325 million

Published: November 12, 2020
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Businessmen shaking hands.

Hyla’s capabilities will reportedly double Assurant’s processing volumes and allow the company to process a wider range of devices. | Quality Stock Arts/Shutterstock

Hyla Mobile, a reverse logistics company that refurbishes and resells phones, has been acquired by insurance and extended warranty provider Assurant.

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Canadian project will divert e-scrap into city infrastructure

Published: November 12, 2020
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Scrap electronics piled for recycling.

Nokia and Greener Acres Canada are partnering to use over 48,000 tons of e-scrap in manufacturing “smart” utility poles. | vladdon/Shutterstock

A partnership between a wireless network provider and electronics processor will use end-of-life devices to produce new “smart” utility poles.

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Firms to face vaccine policy considerations

Published: November 12, 2020
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Closeup of a syringe and vaccine vial.

An employment lawyer recently said there isn’t a clear answer yet on whether non-healthcare employers can force employees to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, but there are some indications they’ll be allowed to. | Rohane Hamilton/Shutterstock

As the country gets closer to coronavirus vaccine approvals and distribution, recycling business managers may soon face a thorny question: whether to force employees to take the vaccine.

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Refurbishers scramble after Microsoft shifts license structure

Published: November 5, 2020
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Microsoft Office license agreement screen under a magnifying glass.

Under Microsoft’s new program, authorized refurbishers can set or negotiate prices for licenses sold to third-party companies. | dennizn/Shutterstock

PCs for People is among the organizations that have started reselling software keys to companies that were left in the lurch when Microsoft eliminated its refurbisher program last month.

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Metals experts talk pandemic impact and forecast demand

Published: November 5, 2020
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Shredded e-scrap showing gold and other metals.

The e-scrap metals market saw a significant impact from the coronavirus pandemic, which made obtaining supply a challenging task. | Amy_VonDe/Shutterstock

Processors were not alone in feeling supply and demand impacts from COVID-19. Their downstream partners were in a similar boat, as three smelting and refining experts explained during a presentation last week.

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