#ESC2025 Speaker Spotlight: David Daoud

Born and raised in Algeria, David Daoud took an unlikely route to the world of electronics recycling. Having trained as an oil and gas engineer, he swapped desert heat for Boston snow in 1990, earning a master’s in international economics and eventually finding his way into data analysis at Harvard.

His early work tracking IT hardware markets at IDC and Computerworld gave him a front-row seat to the birth of the digital age and, as he puts it, “a clear view of how fast yesterday’s cutting-edge tech becomes tomorrow’s e-waste.”

That vantage point stuck. Over the next two decades, Daoud became one of the industry’s sharpest observers, charting trends in ITAD, circular materials and the economics of reuse. He founded Compliance Standards LLC in 2014, where he advises both enterprises and service providers on compliance, risk management, and M&A intelligence. “My goal,” he says, “is to help companies understand not only how to manage IT responsibly, but how to see sustainability as a competitive advantage.”

Today, as a contributing editor for Resource Recycling, Daoud brings that analytical edge to the page, offering deep dives into data security, ESG and the market forces reshaping electronics recovery. He’s also putting the finishing touches on his upcoming book, Sustainable IT in the Age of AI, due in 2026, proof that his curiosity about technology’s lifecycle extends well beyond spreadsheets.

When he’s not dissecting circular-economy models, Daoud admits Boston’s sports scene occasionally lures him away from the keyboard “but only when the Celtics are in the finals,” he says. “Otherwise, I’m still trying to figure out baseball.”

This year’s E-Scrap Conference will see Daoud lead the workshop ITAD Sector Outlook: Market Momentum, Strategic Maturity and Emerging Risks, where he’ll unpack findings from his ongoing research into the ITAD landscape. But before he dives into market data and risk models, it’s time to step away from the spreadsheets and into the spotlight with David Daoud.

What’s your default karaoke song?

Oh man, the last time I tried karaoke was either in Japan or Hong Kong where I sang “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley. I thought because it was such a low-tempo song it would be easier. It wasn’t. I’m typically not the front person; I’m very introverted and I don’t like to be in front of a crowd. But a slow song like that works for me … I’d encourage anyone who’s a bit shy to do the same, you can always sing in your bedroom with a big TV and YouTube.

What song or band makes you crank up the volume in your car?

I listen to all sorts of music, classic rock, hip-hop, Pavarotti and music from my Algerian roots. If I had to pick one, I’d say U2. It’s rock and roll, it has substance, melody and range. But yes, their earlier stuff was much better, I remember the ’90s for sure. Fantastic.

What’s your guilty-pleasure TV show?

I haven’t seen much lately, but “Breaking Bad” kept me on the edge of my seat. Since then, it’s been hard to replicate that. The last movie that really got my attention was “Glengarry Glen Ross.” People say it’s boring, it is not. 

When was the last time you took public transport and where was it to?

My apartment is about two stops from Boston Logan Airport, and I often take the train into the city. In fact, I’m heading there tomorrow for work-related reasons. The last time I went just for fun was about a month ago, but I try to do that before it gets too cold.

Who would you most hate to be stuck in an elevator with?

That’s a tough one. I was tempted to name a politician, but that’s dangerous territory. Let’s just say any politician, unless they’re willing to listen to what I really think.

What piece of business advice do you think is overrated?

That’s a hard one. I was going to say “time is money,” but that’s still true. I’ll have to think about it more ‘cause nothing jumps out immediately.

What’s your most irrational superstition or habit?

I tend to believe things will work out no matter what. Maybe it’s not rational, but that permanent optimism keeps me going. Some would say it’s good because optimism drives you forward, but at some point you have to recognize when something isn’t working and find Plan B.

Aliens land and ask you to explain capitalism in one sentence. What do you say?

It’s an unstoppable machine. When I was a student in Algeria, we used to debate communism and capitalism. A professor once called communism an uncontrollable machine and years later I realized capitalism is the same. It’s full of opposing forces and impossible to control, but it evolves beautifully on its own.

If you weren’t in the recycling industry, what different job would you secretly love to do?

My dream job would be to be a food critic for The New York Times. To go to every restaurant in New York City, try every kind of food and write about it, oh my goodness, that would be fantastic.

Who was your childhood hero?

A childhood hero..?! Um…I can’t recall being impressed by anyone, I’m afraid. 

What ringtone is on your cell phone right now?

“Who Can It Be Now?” by Men at Work. It fits perfectly because these days nine out of 10 calls are from marketers. I mute my phone much of the time, it’s becoming a mental hazard.

What’s the most recent book you gave up on and why?

I tried James Joyce – the last one [“Finnegans Wake”] – and it was impossible. The language was too complex. I didn’t grow up speaking English, so understanding all the subtleties was tough. I gave up. These days I lean more toward nonfiction like history and business. They’re easier for someone like me.

When did you last do something for the very first time?

I’ve started committing to environmental projects, helping rural Caribbean communities build schools, clean beaches and create jobs collecting and reusing sargassum. I’ve also sponsored doctors traveling between towns. As you mature, you step back from business and want to make a more direct impact. It’s my first time doing this and I love every minute of it.

What’s pinned to your fridge door?

A bunch of magnets from places I’ve visited around the world. Underneath them is a small calendar tracking my runs. I’ve visited dozens of countries and I intend to fill that fridge completely.

And what’s the strangest thing on your desk right now?

Business cards. Can you imagine? In an era when everything’s digital – with email, WhatsApp and social media and so on – I still have a stack of paper business cards. It’s weird, but true.