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E-Scrap EPR round-up part 2: California

Published: September 25, 2025
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As California moves to implement SB 1215, the definition of battery-embedded device and the associated fees with the program are at the forefront of discussions. | Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock

Editor’s note: With 25 states and the District of Columbia covering 66% of the US population under e-scrap laws, jurisdictions continue to address collection and funding challenges as programs and technology evolve.

This EPR Update series in E-Scrap News examines the latest policy updates from four states navigating these regulatory shifts. Read part one here.

The West Coast has become a hub of activity in the producer responsibility legislative landscape, with all eyes on California as it prepares to launch an extended fee system covering battery-embedded devices.

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REACT aims to transform US e-scrap recycling

Published: September 18, 2025
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REACT, DOE E-SCRAP finalist from Intel-E-Waste, Sunnking, Penn State and NREL, uses heat- and chemical-free separation to produce high-value e-scrap streams, piloting in 2026. | Damrong Rattanapong / Shutterstock

A project spearheaded by Intel-E-Waste is aiming to reshape US e-scrap recycling by delivering cleaner, higher-value diverse product streams and reducing dependence on overseas smelters. Continue Reading

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Ex-Glencore chief starts Valor to refine critical metals

Published: September 18, 2025
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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

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‘Vape effect’ blamed as facility fires hit summer records

Published: September 11, 2025
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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

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Industry trends point to opportunity for ITAD firms

Published: September 11, 2025
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise and other technology companies have pointed to operating system and AI adoption as drivers for device refreshes, spurring supply for recyclers and secondary markets. | Photo courtesy of Hewlett Packard Enterprise

In its recent quarterly investor call, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) was the latest technology firm to credit a sustained cycle of enterprise infrastructure upgrades for a prolonged increase of used equipment into secondary markets.

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

Published: September 11, 2025
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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

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Assurant sees 60% rise in Q2 trade-in values

Published: September 4, 2025
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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.

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E-Scrap Conference 2025 addresses macro trends reshaping industry

Published: September 4, 2025
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Tying the agenda together is the balance between high-level strategic issues and practical operational themes. | Photo by meetbigwave.com

The E-Scrap Conference agenda features a rich program that offers operational detail and high-level strategy as attendees face immediate market realities in the near term and structural changes in the long term. Continue Reading

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Dell expects PC refresh to extend into next year

Published: September 4, 2025
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The technology company also saw record growth in AI infrastructure, which will present opportunities for device refurbishment and resale especially in secondary and international markets. | Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock

Dell Technologies reported record-breaking second-quarter revenue for fiscal 2026, largely driven by surging demand for AI-optimized servers, while executives also signaled that the PC refresh driven by the Windows 10 end of life would stretch out for some time.

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