Iron Mountain reported $1.6 billion in revenue for the first quarter, an increase of 7.8% compared to the same period last year, and Echo saw sales growth jump by 8.8% on the year. | JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock
Recent earnings reports from Iron Mountain and ITAD company Echo’s parent company showed overall growth and pointed to headwinds in data center decommissioning and personal devices. Continue Reading
Former employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development were told they would not be required to physically turn in their work devices. | -People Image Studio/Shutterstock
The U.S. government decided not to have recently fired workers return federally issued electronics, instead noting they will be “remotely sanitized,” despite the potentially sensitive information the laptops, tablets and phones may contain. Continue Reading
The companies are offering the first ISO 14064 certified ITAD impact reporting and independent carbon registry for certified carbon credits. | TStudious/Shutterstock
ITAD company Sage Sustainable Electronics has partnered with advisory firm Bloom ESG to offer certified carbon credits. Continue Reading
The Mamba Board line features composite boards made from recycled e-plastics. | Courtesy of RePolyTex
E-plastics processor Synergy Electronics Recycling and its subsidiary, RePolyTex, have expanded their product line of composite boards made with recycled e-plastics and recently earned recognition from the Carolina Recycling Association. Continue Reading
A county collection program servicing 223,000 single-family households is rolling out on-demand curbside electronics and battery collection accepting virtually all types of e-scrap. | Photo courtesy Montgomery County Department of Environment Protection
By creatively utilizing existing collection infrastructure, a county government in Maryland is rolling out curbside electronics and battery collection for all electronics at no additional cost. Continue Reading
Hard drives provide one source of rare earth elements in the end-of-life electronics stream. | Kazu326/Shutterstock
As rare earth elements draw mainstream headlines for their entanglement in the U.S.-China trade war, recent announcements from an ITAD operator, an OEM and a magnet processor indicate the domestic end-of-life device stream is increasingly providing feedstock for rare earth end users. Continue Reading
Gov. Bob Ferguson has 20 days to sign the bills into law after they are delivered to his desk. | Zack Frank/Shutterstock
A right-to-repair electronics bill is sitting on the Washington governor’s desk, while a bill that would again delay the state’s extended producer responsibility program for solar panels is now law. Continue Reading
Back Market and iFixit announced a broad partnership that will see each integrate the other’s product offerings, as well as direct advocacy on right-to-repair legislation. | Courtesy of Back Market
Two big names in the electronics repair and refurbishment space are partnering up to influence consumer and manufacturer behavior and create a world where circularity is the default. Continue Reading
Smartphones and laptops are exempt from U.S. tariffs targeting Chinese imports, but other goods are currently subject to 145% in duties. | Metamorworks/Shutterstock
Country-specific reciprocal tariffs have been pushed out until July, but a universal base rate tariff rolled out last week, which covers all countries, and earlier metals tariffs remain in effect. Meanwhile, an all-out trade war between the U.S. and China is intensifying. Continue Reading
China dominates the global production of rare earth elements, and the U.S. wants to find ways to change that. | RHJ Photo and Illustration/Shutterstock
The White House this week issued an executive order directing the Department of Commerce to explore the effects of critical mineral imports on national security. Among other points, it calls for the agency to explore policies boosting recycling of minerals like cobalt, nickel, aluminum and palladium, as well as the 17 rare earth elements. Continue Reading