ABOUT ELECTRONICS RECYCLING
 

OVERVIEW OF THE ELECTRONICS RECYCLING INDUSTRY

Electronics recycling is an emerging industry that is at a critical point in its development, in terms of growth and challenges. As the production and use of electronics products continues to increase dramatically throughout both the business and public sectors, the challenges of disposal and recovery of materials are becoming significant. The commercial sector has been recycling electronics for more than 20 years and has been the driving force in creating and growing the electronics recycling industry. Up until recently, the major sources of electronics products for recycling have been manufacturers and large users. Although consumers also own vast quantities of electronics products, many have been disposed of in landfills or left unused in storage. The number of TVs and personal computers becoming obsolete or replaced has been increasing significantly and is creating a need for recycling consumer electronics.

The disposal of end-of-life electronics products has become a topic of interest and concern worldwide as municipalities face the potential of enormous volumes to handle in the future. In addition to aggravating the cost and availability of landfills, electronics products contain materials that should not be treated as common waste. Most, if not all of the materials are recyclable and have reuse value, such as metals and plastics. There are also relatively small quantities of some specific materials that may be potentially hazardous, particularly if they are not disposed of properly, such as lead, mercury and cadmium. Electronics recycling companies specialize in providing a service that assures the proper handling and disposal of these materials with the objective of optimizing recycling and reuse.

There are more than 400 companies in the USA that are considered to be electronics recyclers. That is, companies or organizations with operations in one or more of the segments of the electronics recycling industry. Most companies involved with electronics recycling are relatively small and new businesses. However, there are a number of major recyclers that collectively process a large portion of the industry volume. In addition to recycling companies, there are some manufacturers/OEMs and not-for-profit organizations with electronics recycling operations. The key economic drivers of the electronics recycling industry are the need for a predictable stream of high volume sources and the capital required for automated processes. The future growth and success of the industry will depend on developing an effective and efficient infrastructure for electronics recycling serving all sectors.

Electronics recycling is also growing outside the USA. In fact, Europe has established legislation requiring the take back and proper disposal of electrical and electronics equipment (i.e., the “WEEE Directives”) and is building the infrastructure to support it. Manufacturers are implementing product take back and recycling operations in Japan. China has become a growing, but controversial destination for recycling scrap electronics. Since most of the major metal refiners of the world are outside the USA, a substantial amount of processed materials are exported.

To see what is included when referring to electronics equipment, click here for a definition of electronics equipment, prepared by the IAER.


INDUSTRY DATA & TRENDS

IAER ELECTRONICS RECYCLING INDUSTRY REPORT - 2003

The IAER published the first and only comprehensive report on the electronics recycling industry, providing a wealth of information about this dynamic industry. It supercedes and expands on all previously published reports and directories on electronics recycling. Included is an Industry Study that provides a comprehensive summary and analysis of current data and trends on electronics recycling in the USA (based on recent IAER Research as well as the new IAER Industry Survey). The IAER Electronics Recycling Industry Report is an essential resource for anyone involved or interested in electronics recycling. Click here for an overview and highlights of the Report.


RESOURCES

Also included in the IAER Electronics Recycling Industry Report is an extensive list of resources and references on electronics recycling from both the public and private sectors (with web site links). Click here for a list of some of the other resources available on the Internet about electronics recycling.


IAER ELECTRONICS RECYCLING PRESENTATION

The IAER has updated its overview presentation about the electronics recycling industry that includes general information about the nature and structure of the industry as well as summary data and trends from the IAER Electronics Recycling Industry Report. Click here to view (.ppt) or download (.zip) the presentation.

Source: The International Association of Electronics Recyclers, Inc. www.iaer.org