The U.S. recycling industry, including the e-scrap recycling sector, is expected to feel the economic repercussions of the escalating U.S.-China trade war.
Ingrid Sinclair, Sims Recycling Solutions
With massive amounts of server farm electronics expected to be replaced in coming years, Sims Recycling Solutions has its head solidly in the cloud.
Researchers overseas say high-impact polystyrene from scrap electronics can be used as a replacement for sand in self-compacting concrete.
Revenue and earnings for global e-scrap processor Sims Recycling Solutions dropped in the second half of 2018 compared with the same period a year earlier.
A longtime Kansas City nonprofit e-scrap operation has temporarily closed its doors, noting that financial pressure from changes in global recycling markets played into the decision.
Despite trying economic times for much of the industry, Missouri-based EPC has found success by sticking with its specialty: refurbing and remarketing used IT equipment.
Global economic conditions have helped push up the scrap value of principal metals used in electronics.
Import policies in China and Southeast Asia continue to tighten, making it more difficult to move certain e-scrap materials to international markets.
