In the midst of coronavirus-related closures, ITAD companies are reporting decreases of up to 75% in the flow of used IT equipment from corporate accounts and other organizations. | Zhuravlev Andrey/Shutterstock
At enterprises across North America, IT asset refresh projects are no longer a top priority. That has meant major volume drops for material processors, as well as painful staffing cuts in some cases.
Japan’s Mitsubishi Materials is planning to invest over $100 million to boost its global e-scrap processing footprint.
Canada-based EnviroLeach is planning to open a processing facility that will use a non-toxic water-based formula to recover precious metals.
Because of business and public drop-off site closures and public anxiety about virus transmission, e-scrap collections are down across North America. | Dan Leif/ Resource Recycling, Inc.
The coronavirus pandemic has led to major reductions in the collection of used consumer electronics across North America, with some e-scrap companies reporting volume drops up to 80%.
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.
ITADCentral provides a hub for vendors to list their services and ITAD customers to seek providers tailored to their specific needs. | Plus69/Shutterstock
An ITAD veteran recently launched a platform connecting service providers with enterprise customers, with a goal of refreshing what he calls an “archaic” industry practice: the request-for-proposal process.
Living Green handles a variety of devices, but mostly focuses on office IT assets.
Over the course of three years, Seattle-area processor Living Green Technology has grown from a one-man show to a small business that’s well-positioned to serve the asset disposition needs of the Pacific Northwest’s tech sector.
Leaders at both R2 and e-Stewards cited safety concerns for recycling and refurbishing operations as well as the auditors that visit them. | Courtesy R2 Corporation
The administrators of e-scrap standards are adjusting auditing and certification procedures in response to the global coronavirus pandemic. R2 and e-Stewards both published guidance on the temporary policies this week.
The cause of the fire had not been determined and remains under investigation. | Torychemistry/Shutterstock
E-scrap processor Interco Trading says it’s open and operating normally after a large fire broke out in one of its warehouses last week.
