Mail-in electronics recycling has become more common in the era of COVID-19 as in-person collection events are cancelled. | mdbildes/Shutterstock
The coronavirus pandemic has strained e-scrap collection, but that’s opening the door to an alternative recovery system that minimizes contact between people.
The U.N. report also notes that the number of countries with national e-scrap policies, legislation or regulations increased from 61 in 2014 to 78 in 2019. | sasirin pamai/Shutterstock
A United Nations report estimates that 17.4% of e-scrap generated globally was recycled in 2019, well short of a goal of 30% by 2023.
In 2019, the E-Cycle Washington program’s total weight collected was 21.4 million pounds, down from 25.3 million pounds in 2018. | Koy_Hipster/Shutterstock
For the first time, the number of flat-panel displays collected under Washington’s e-scrap program exceeded that of CRTs, according to an annual report.
Two e-scrap firms commented on business conditions during a recent webinar hosted by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. | DimiSotirov/Shutterstock
During a recent virtual meeting of e-scrap stakeholders, speakers offered a micro and macro look at how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the world of electronics recovery.
A view of the recently installed e-plastics sorting and washing line at eCycle Solutions. | Courtesy of eCycle Solutions
A major North American e-scrap company has invested approximately $1.5 million into a plastics cleanup line, partly to get ahead of tighter international rules on plastics exports.
European trends suggest that end consumers are becoming more open to buying used electronics. | MaxFrost/Shutterstock
With OEMs struggling to produce and ship new electronics during coronavirus-triggered shutdowns, a new willingness to buy refurbished devices has sprouted in Europe, according to Deutsche Welle.
Global e-scrap and ITAD firm TES operates 38 facilities in more than 20 countries. | Koy_Hipster/Shutterstock
Singapore-headquartered ITAD provider TES is adding a third U.S. processing facility as it seeks to grow its worldwide reach.
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.
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.
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.