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Process employs lasers to separate e-scrap materials

Published: May 14, 2020
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The research project focused on recovering cobalt, tantalum, neodymium, tungsten and gallium, materials that were chosen due to their relative scarcity and cost. | Courtesy of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology.

A four-year research project has developed an automated system that uses lasers to identify and remove components while dismantling electronics.

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Group pushes feds to consider more firms for contracts

Published: June 18, 2020
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Computer towers gathered for recycling.

The Coalition for American Electronics Recycling is calling for a change to Executive Order 12999, which directs federal agencies to distribute retired assets to nonprofit organizations for refurbishment and distribution to schools. | Fedor Sidorov/Shutterstock

A coalition of electronics recycling companies wants to see change in a government rule that prevents federal agencies from distributing surplus IT equipment to for-profit processors.

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BAN offers update on its EarthEye tracking program

Published: June 18, 2020
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Global network concept.

The Basel Action Network estimates that since the EarthEye program started over a dozen customers have used the trackers. | Aunging/Shutterstock

Samsung is deploying 40 GPS trackers a year to follow the downstream movement of scrap electronics. Processors, including Kuusakoski, have used the devices to track the movement of recovered commodities.

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Court affirms sentence for former e-scrap CEO

Published: June 11, 2020
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Court gavel sitting on a laptop.

Former e-scrap executive Robert Boston remains in prison in Beaver, W.Va. with an April 8, 2027 release date. | New Africa/Shutterstock

A federal appeals court has upheld a 10-year prison sentence for Robert M. Boston, who led the now-closed e-scrap startup Zloop before he was convicted of financial crimes.

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Basel proposal pushes to further regulate e-scrap exports

Published: June 11, 2020
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Cargo containers stacked at a shipping terminal.

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is an international treaty governing how waste is moved around the world. | mayday6510/Shutterstock

Multiple countries are proposing to expand restrictions on the global movement of discarded electronics.

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SERI approves updated R2 standard

Published: May 29, 2020
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The revised standard will replace R2:2013, to which over 950 facilities around the world are currently certified. | Castleski/Shutterstock

After thousands of volunteer hours and dozens of meetings over nearly five years, stakeholders working to update the R2 standard have reached the finish line.

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Details emerge on scope of Closed Loop CRT cleanup

Published: May 14, 2020
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A photo from consulting firm AECOM shows a view inside of 1655 Watkins Road in 2015, when Closed Loop still operated in the space.

E-scrap company Novotec will be paid up to $14 million to recycle or dispose of over 128 million pounds of CRT materials at former Closed Loop Refining and Recovery warehouses in Ohio, newly released documents show.

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