News

IT asset disposition company Sprout has received a majority investment from a New York City-based private equity firm, which predicts rising demand for ITAD services in the years to come.

The power struggle between South Korean smelting company Korea Zinc and a private equity firm that wants to seize control of the company is continuing, with both using press conferences and statements to publicly attack the other's business decisions.

The U.S. IT asset disposition and electronics recycling industries struggled to sustain growth in 2023 because of a dormant market, dominated by lack of demand for used equipment and parts, and hesitation from companies that have refrained from relinquishing their aging assets. Asset procurement on the upstream side and trading in the downstream sector were weak, and as a result, prices fell substantially.

As technology trade tensions between China and the U.S. escalate, bans on trading minerals used in producing LED screens, semiconductors, chips and batteries are again putting the recycling sector in the spotlight. 

With just weeks to go before new e-scrap trading regulations take effect worldwide, companies are feeling cautiously optimistic that trade disruption will be softer than it could have been. 

[caption id="attachment_25333" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Courtesy of Battery Detection Solutions[/caption] Last month, readers were drawn to coverage of an emerging x-ray sorting technology supplier, a CRT processor's compliance agreement, a major ITAD firm's analysis of AI opportunities, an interview with the recently appointed RIOS leader, and a data security session at

Metals and rare earth processor Cyclic Materials signed a multi-year offtake agreement with Glencore to send the smelter copper from e-scrap, batteries and electric motors. 

Amazon's sustainability efforts have resulted in millions of components being diverted from landfills and in longer useful lifespans for equipment, the company announced on its website earlier this month. 

New U.K. rules will require online retailers importing electronics into the country to contribute to costs associated with recycling e-scrap there, and introduce a new category specifically for vapes.

As artificial intelligence continues to ramp up, researchers said the computing-heavy tool could lead to skyrocketing volumes of end-of-life electronics and called for equal attention to asset management.