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Repair roundup: Celebration, legislation and education

Published: October 15, 2020
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A worker repairs a mobile device.

Reuse and repair advocates recently launched an event to run as an alternative to Amazon’s “Prime Day.” | Prostock-studio/Shutterstock

A U.S. Senator advocates for right-to-repair policies, and refurbishment stakeholders launch an alternative to an event they say promotes consumerism.

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The details on Apple’s lawsuit against GEEP Canada

Published: October 8, 2020
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Exterior of an Apple store.

Apple alleges its damages total $30 million Canadian, deriving from lost profits from gray-markets sales and injury to Apple’s brand image and trademarks. | IRENE COLL INGLES/Shutterstock

Apple claims GEEP Canada employees hid Apple devices out of view of an e-scrap facility’s cameras, mislabeled devices as “copper bearings” for outbound shipping, and then received kickbacks for illegally reselling them.

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Export roundup: BAN accuses Dell; Thailand updates policy

Published: October 8, 2020
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Export shipping terminal scene on the water.

The Basel Action Network recently publicized a Thai government decision making official a previously announced ban on e-scrap imports. | KAMONRAT/Shutterstock

The Basel Action Network this week announced changes in an overseas e-scrap import policy, and the group said an OEM broke its own policies by shipping several low-value devices to Guatemala.

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How a processor brought drive wiping and repair to ITAD sites

Published: October 1, 2020
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Ultratest Solutions

The Genesis unit in use erasing, testing and repairing drives. | Courtesy of Ultratest Solutions.

Amid growing data security concerns, U.K.-based Ultratec has seen greater reluctance among its customers to ship unwiped drives to Ultratec’s plants for data sanitization. Bringing drive processing capabilities to customers’ sites alleviates those concerns.

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Fire damages Cleanlites facility

Published: October 1, 2020
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Fire alarm on a facility wall.

Fire officials told a local TV station they believe batteries started the blaze at Cleanlites Recycling facility. | Nuroon Jampaklai/Shutterstock

A fire caused significant damage at an e-scrap recycling facility in Mason, Mich. last weekend, according to local news.

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Plaintiff in processor lawsuit now facing criminal charges

Published: September 24, 2020
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Judge holding a gavel.

Kevin Shibilski is the latest former leader of 5R Processors to face criminal charges. | Tridsanu Thopet/Shutterstock

In July, a former 5R Processors executive alleged he was the victim of a fraud scheme perpetrated by other 5R leaders and a local bank. Now, that former CEO has been indicted on federal criminal charges.

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An uncommon path to e-scrap CEO

Published: September 24, 2020
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Stacked laptops for resale.

Recycle Technologies processes a variety of electronics and lightbulbs at its two facilities. | Plus69/Shutterstock

After Recycle Technologies changed hands earlier this year, Lydia Keith began leading the Minnesota-based processor. She’s an industry newcomer who has spent much of her professional life in theater, which gives her a unique view of the sector.

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Lights, camera, device repair: Movie highlights sector

Published: September 17, 2020
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Two young women repairing their smartphones from the film Silicon Mountain

Bronte and Dominique, two consumers who in “Silicon Mountain” are tasked with trying to replace the batteries in their smartphones.

With export scandals, CRT stockpiles and more, the electronics recycling industry has suffered its share of image bruises. A short film being launched by an ERP vendor, however, casts a far more pleasant glow on the business of electronics recovery.

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