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Idaho National Laboratory Seeks E-Waste Recyclers in 25 States After Collecting 53,700 Pounds
Idaho National Laboratory is recruiting electronics recycling organizations in 25 states to expand a collection model that recovered more than 53,700 pounds of electronic waste in southeastern Idaho. Interested organizations have until November 13, 2026, to submit expressions of interest.
Key Points
- Recruitment: Qualified electronics recyclers are being sought across 25 eligible U.S. states.
- Previous results: More than 53,700 pounds of e-waste collected from approximately 850 households in Idaho.
- Expansion: Six to nine additional collection events planned, with participating organizations conducting at least two to three events each.
- Research focus: Improving collection of battery-containing electronics and recoverable critical minerals.
- Application deadline: November 13, 2026, subject to change.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is seeking qualified electronics recyclers in 25 U.S. states to help determine whether an e-waste collection model successfully tested in southeastern Idaho can be expanded to other communities.
The laboratory aims to organize six to nine additional collection events in states without electronics recycling regulations. Each participating organization would conduct at least two to three events before September 2027.
The initiative is funded by the Transportation Technologies Office within the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation.
ScrapMonster Edge: Collection Infrastructure Matters Even Without Recycling Mandates
INL's earlier research offers an important finding: electronics collection programmes can achieve comparable results in states with and without e-waste recycling laws when effective collection and outreach methods are applied.
After testing approaches in regulated New York, researchers applied similar methods in Idaho, which has no comparable statewide recycling requirements. The resulting 20 collection events attracted approximately 850 households and recovered more than 53,700 pounds of electronics.
Industry takeaway: For electronics recyclers, successful collection depends on accessible drop-off locations, community awareness and reliable downstream processing. The next phase will test whether these approaches can work consistently across additional states, potentially supporting greater recovery of battery materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel.
Idaho Pilot Collected More Than 53,700 Pounds of E-Waste
The new recruitment forms the second phase of an INL-led research project comparing electronics recycling strategies in states with and without formal collection requirements.
During the first two years, researchers organized collection activities in New York and Idaho, adapting successful methods from New York for use in southeastern Idaho.
Through September 2026, approximately 850 households participated in 20 Idaho collection events, contributing more than 53,700 pounds of discarded electronics.
More than 350 participants also completed surveys identifying barriers to electronics recycling and opportunities to improve collection programmes.
Research Focuses on Battery-Containing Electronics
The study places particular emphasis on discarded devices containing batteries, including lithium-ion batteries.
These products can contain recoverable critical materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel, which are important to battery manufacturing and other industrial supply chains.
INL hopes to improve collection rates while identifying practical methods that communities can use to recover valuable materials safely and responsibly.
Participating Recyclers Must Organize Events and Report Results
Organizations selected for the programme must be capable of organizing collection events at new locations, promoting them through multiple communication channels and documenting results.
Required information includes the number of participants, types of electronics collected and quantities received.
Applicants must also describe existing residential e-waste collection options and identify downstream partners responsible for transporting, receiving, recycling or otherwise processing the recovered equipment.
Relevant recycling certifications, including R2 and e-Stewards, should be identified where applicable.
How Electronics Recyclers Can Apply
Interested organizations must submit an expression of interest describing their operations, service area, existing collection infrastructure, proposed events, community needs, outreach strategy and downstream recycling arrangements.
Applications are due November 13, 2026, according to INL's procurement announcement. The deadline is subject to change.
Only selected respondents will be invited to participate in a subsequent request-for-proposals process. Submitting an expression of interest does not guarantee selection or a contract.
Interested in Participating?
Qualified electronics recycling organizations can review eligible states, application requirements and submission instructions directly through Idaho National Laboratory's procurement portal.
Courtesy: Idaho Business Review.
Primary source: Idaho National Laboratory, November 3, 2026.
