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Tag Archives: research

UN: E-commerce growth drives e-scrap volumes

Published: July 18, 2024
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A pile of mixed e-scrap material.

The UN Conference on Trade and Development said in its Digital Economy Report that developing nations shoulder a disproportionate share of the environmental impact from global digitalization. | KPixMining/Shutterstock

People living in developed countries generate more than 20 times as much e-scrap as their counterparts in developing countries, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s recently released 2024 Digital Economy Report.  Continue Reading

Researchers use e-coli, other bacteria to recover rare earths

Published: June 21, 2024
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In the collaboration between multiple Austrian research universities, researchers tested a two-stage bacterial process for recovering both common metals and rare earths from the shredded e-scrap stream. | Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

A team of Austrian researchers have developed what they describe as a “cost-effective” and non-polluting method to recover rare earth metals from electronics, and so far, they’ve achieved recovery rates of up to 85% from the e-scrap stream. Continue Reading

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Oregon e-scrap recovery tonnage fell in 2022

Published: May 31, 2024
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In 2022, electronics recovery in Oregon decreased by 10%, according to a new state report. | Morten-B/Shutterstock

The amount of material Oregonians disposed of in 2022 dropped significantly from the year before, mainly due to fewer building-destroying wildfires, and electronics made up only 0.4% of the recycled materials.

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National Lab researchers use saltwater for metals recovery

Published: May 2, 2024
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Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are recovering manganese, magnesium, dysprosium and neodymium from e-scrap using a salt water-based solution. | Mike Perkins/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory found a way to recover some critical metals from e-scrap using a mixed-salt water-based solution.  Continue Reading

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Robotics and e-scrap firms receive battery-focused funds

Published: April 11, 2024
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The U.S. Department of Energy on March 28 announced 17 projects that will receive a combined $62 million in government funding to improve consumer access to battery recycling and to improve the economics of battery processing. | Sergii Chernov/Shutterstock

Municipal collection events. Fire safety systems. Robotic sortation upgrades. These are a few of the numerous battery recycling efforts to receive a combined $62 million in government funding made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Continue Reading

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UN issues ‘immediate call’ for greater e-scrap recovery

Published: March 21, 2024
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The U.N.’s fourth Global E-Waste Monitor report estimated 62 million metric tons of end-of-life electronics and electrical appliances were generated in 2022, of which 22.3% were recycled through formal collection systems. | SAPhotog/Shutterstock

A global analysis from the United Nations found that electronics and electrical equipment are reaching end of life at a quantity and speed that is far outpacing the recycling sector’s capacity to collect and process that material. Still, the global collection rate is on the rise. Continue Reading

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Federal program seeks to ‘defragment’ e-scrap sector

Published: March 14, 2024
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The U.S. Department of Energy’s Electronics Scrap Materials Recycling Prize is a multi-phase competition for a range of electronics recycling industry players. | Morten B/Shutterstock

A technology manager with the U.S. Department of Energy said improving e-scrap management fits squarely within the federal government’s material sourcing and climate goals. That’s why the agency has launched a new funding and technical assistance opportunity targeting electronics recovery. Continue Reading

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ITAD report ranks companies’ marketing results

Published: March 14, 2024
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ITAD research and advising firm Compliance Standards shared the first edition of its ITAD Marketing Leadership Tracker. | NicoElNino/Shutterstock

Which processor has the most aggressive marketing campaign? Who is getting the most traffic from search engine results? How is the overall ITAD industry faring in site visits? An analysis from Compliance Standards has the answers. Continue Reading

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Study quantifies lithium battery threat to infrastructure

Published: January 18, 2024
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A study from the National Waste and Recycling Association found that the rate of catastrophic fire losses has risen by 41% over the last five years. | Piotr Zajda/Shutterstock

The National Waste and Recycling Association estimates that more than 5,000 fires occur annually at recycling facilities, and it recently warned many were likely linked to lithium-ion batteries. Continue Reading

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