IC Recovery uses a heated oil to loosen chips from circuit boards without damaging the chips. This photo shows a circuit board with the chips removed. | Courtesy of IC Recovery
Over a decade ago, Greene Lyon Group first developed a thermofluid process for removing chips from circuit boards so the chips could be reused. “That was back in 2012; there was no chip shortage,” said Dale Johnson, CEO of Greene Lyon Group.
Anticipation of a global recession, along with increased inflation and higher interest rates, are behind the low PC shipment numbers. | MMilda/Shutterstock
Research and consulting firm Gartner cited economic uncertainty as the reason behind a drop in worldwide PC shipments in the fourth quarter of 2022 and the year overall.
A law will allow certified, nonprofit refurbishing companies to directly obtain, refurbish and distribute surplus government computers to veterans and others in need. | Dmitry-A/Shutterstock
A new law allows the federal government to provide surplus and repairable used computers directly to nonprofit refurbishers, who will then provide them to individuals in need.
KeyBank has provided money for dedicated space and equipment to teach financial wellness classes at RecycleForce’s new headquarters, which is under construction in Indianapolis. | Courtesy of RecycleForce
RecycleForce’s upcoming Indiana headquarters will provide not only training in e-scrap recycling but a dedicated space for financial wellness lessons, with help from KeyBank.
Washington state has never before collected fewer pounds of electronics through its e-scrap program.
PCs for People has collected nearly 1,000 computers from the Cook County area in the last year. | Courtesy of PCs for People
PCs for People has opened a permanent home in the Chicagoland area, allowing the nonprofit electronics processor to better address the region’s gaping digital divide.
ITAD service providers saw used equipment prices skyrocket during the pandemic; now they have to reckon with a market leveling out at lower values amid recession worries. | Ari N/Shutterstock
Prices for refurbished PCs have fallen in the past year alongside ongoing uncertainty in the economy, but ITAD players said the market appears to have leveled off – for now.
Microsoft is also working to expand its authorized repair network by early 2023, for customers who do not want to attempt repairs themselves. | Chie Inoue/Shutterstock
A recent teardown analysis by iFixit found that Microsoft made progress on its repairability improvement promises with the Surface Pro 9.
Working with the two laptop distribution nonprofits, AT&T will help provide a total of 26,000 computers to those in need as part of the company’s $2 billion commitment, announced in 2021, to address the digital divide. | GaudiLab/Shutterstock
AT&T recently contributed $10 million and employee time to help nonprofit processors bridge the digital divide.
Researchers evaluated 1,003 life cycle reports from various manufacturers to determine the amount of carbon dioxide emissions created during the life span of products. | Maxx-Studio/Shutterstock
To help cut growing greenhouse gas emissions from electronics, researchers are suggesting extending the life spans of devices.