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Top 5 stories from October 2025

Published: October 29, 2025
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A Basel Action Network study links US e-scrap brokers to large exports into Asia and urges regulators, auditors and lawmakers to close oversight gaps. | Nattanan726/Shutterstock

A two-year study urging scrutiny of e-scrap exports to Southeast Asia drew reader interest in October, as well as an ITAD firm’s consolidation, M&A’s effect on the industry, the Department of Energy’s stake in a lithium firm and the US EPA’s largest lithium-ion battery cleanup. 

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Analysis: Windows 10 sunset to drive ‘urban mining’

Published: October 29, 2025
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After extended service phases out in 2027-2028, retired laptops will help drive recovery of copper, aluminum and other metals. | Photo by Ivan Hafizov

These past few weekends, I found myself scrolling through Amazon’s refurbished‑laptop listings—a habit I use to gauge what’s moving through the secondary market. Page after page told the same story: hundreds of Dell Latitudes, HP EliteBooks and Lenovo ThinkPads advertised with the familiar Windows 10 Pro badge.

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SERI works to restore faith in certifications

Published: October 29, 2025
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Following a report urging deeper scrutiny of e-scrap exporters, the organization previewed its full-year report to help improve confidence in the R2 process. | Ibrahim Alkan/Shutterstock

Ahead of the release of a full year-end report, SERI provided a preview of the outcomes from its Assurance activities in 2025. 

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E-Scrap Conference 2025 ignites industry momentum

Published: October 29, 2025
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Industry experts noted that policy initiatives and certification standards are propelling the sector forward despite loopholes and challenges. | Photo by Big Wave Productions

The opening plenary at the E-Scrap Conference in Grapevine, Texas set out five forces that are reshaping electronics recovery: rapid device change, battery risk, compliance pressure, policy updates and AI-driven data centers. Continue Reading

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From trash to treasure: How old electronics are powering america’s rare earth comeback

Published: October 24, 2025
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Photo courtesy of Cirba

This article appeared in the 2025 issue of E-Scrap News. Subscribe today for access to all print content.

Increased interest in securing domestic supplies of critical minerals is resulting in a recent wave of innovative projects across the US, turning old electronics into a new source of rare earth elements (REE). Continue Reading

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EU recyclers make case for solvent-based methods

Published: October 23, 2025
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Pile of mixed power cords.

Dissolution recycling processes can provide effective separation of flame retardants, metals and more from e-plastics. | Damrong Rattanapong/Shutterstock

Industry association Plastics Recyclers Europe is looking to raise the profile of dissolution recycling, an often-overlooked process that doesn’t quite fit into common recycling categories and is capable of processing a wide variety of hard-to-recycle materials including e-plastics. 

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Analysis: copper set for new investment, recycling growth

Published: October 23, 2025
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Close up of copper wire scrap.

For electronics recyclers, the inclusion of copper as a US critical mineral means circuit boards and wiring looms are shifting from waste streams into high‑value commodities. | Flegere/Shutterstock

When copper was added to the US Geological Survey’s proposed list of critical minerals in August, the move signaled a strategic policy shift extending beyond mining and toward formally confirming its geopolitical significance. 

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