Closing The Loop’s project accumulated about 11,000 pounds of batteries, primarily from mobile phones. | Orapruek/Shutterstock
Leaders of an effort to recycle mobile phone batteries collected from West Africa recently outlined challenges and successes during their 18-month pilot project.
TCL is known primarily as a TV and monitor brand. | Lutsenko_Oleksandr/Shutterstock
Electronics manufacturer TCL will support e-scrap collection events in four states next month, each using a unique reservation-based, contactless collection strategy.
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.
A Retrievr employee collects a laptop and textiles from a home in Pennsylvania. | Courtesy of Retrievr
Retrievr will begin collecting scrap electronics from the porches of Philadelphia homes, after city officials selected the company to participate in the pilot project.
In 2019, the Regulated Waste Division brought in 25% of TerraCycle US’s revenue. | Courtesy of TerraCycle.
TerraCycle’s division that handles a variety of regulated materials saw decreased revenue and profits last year, but a marketing push late in the year helped reverse the trend.
E-scrap programs in Texas have brought in 278.5 million pounds of computers and TVs combined since their inception. | Huguette Roe/Shutterstock
Over 12.5 million pounds of TVs and 6.8 million pounds of computer equipment were collected through Texas state e-scrap programs last year, according to a recent report.
Electronics recycling operations are adapting to the new normal in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. | Jared Paben/Resource Recycling, Inc.
E-scrap and ITAD processors nationwide are disinfecting surfaces, changing work stations, modifying the ways they take in material, and more. The goal is to limit employees’ potential contact with the coronavirus.
Best Buy on March 22 announced its retail stores would close to the public and temporarily suspend recycling activities. | LukeandKarla.Travel/Shutterstock
Citing concerns over COVID-19, a major retailer, the largest U.S. city and a handful of other electronics recycling collection channels have paused services.
EcoATM owns mobile device buy-back kiosks in thousands of retail locations around the country. | ZikG/Shutterstock
Used phone purchasing company ecoATM appears to be bouncing back and growing rapidly, after it suffered financial losses and laid off staff in earlier years.
The Nerivio uses electrical neuromodulation to provide pain relief for migraine sufferers.
California Electronic Asset Recovery has established a mail-in recycling program with an Israeli medical device manufacturer. A CEAR manager highlighted the potential of direct dealings with OEMs.