ERI partners with Wharton School to release new study report on electronics recycling

SPOKANE (Scrap Monster): Electronics recycling firm Electronic Recyclers International (ERI) has published a new report in partnership with Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The report discusses various e-scrap industry related issues.

According to the report, e-waste challenge extends beyond environmental and human rights concerns. In recent months, a focus on national security has attracted interest in e-waste from new constituencies. The first threat concerns data. Both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have noted that the government in Washington today has no statutory way of disposing of their electronic assets. The second threat to national security concerns substandard electronic components manufactured from America’s own e-waste.

The report notes that there is no simple solution to the e-waste challenge. Improving U.S. recycling is part of the answer, but it will take an international effort to shut down unregulated global trade in e-waste.

Responsible Electronics Recycling Act (RERA), which would ban the export of electronics to developing countries and further regulate domestic recycling activities, has been supported by a number of processors and stakeholders but has been fiercely opposed by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries and others. The federal legislation would lead to significant progress in the reduction, reuse and recycling of electronic waste.

As per estimates, approximately $21 billion in gold and silver is used every year in the manufacturing of new electronic devices. Although the content of precious metal in a single device is negligible, recyclers do a great service by removing not only these valuable metals but also extremely toxic metals such as mercury. But as the volume of e-waste continues to grow, the value of gold, silver and other commodities has been dropping rapidly. The report notes that reuse and refurbishment are two areas that have reported growing interest during recent times.