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Uncertainty emerges in the project to recycle gold, silver and copper from electronics into Olympic medals, and sustainability will be discussed during a panel at CES. Olympics medals: Lagging collections efforts have put at risk Japan's goal of sourcing metals for its

A local government grows concerned about financing e-scrap collection without state grants, and a for-profit business, non-profit group and city partner on e-scrap recycling in Arizona. Funding challenge: A New York municipality is having trouble financing its e-scrap collection service as state grant money diminishes.

A state program collects less weight than it did a year ago, and more than a dozen mobile phones are now listed as EPEAT silver or gold. Growing interest: The number of mobile phones registered with the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) has doubled since the category launched over the summer.

A modular phone maker receives significant new capital, and an investment manager advises shareholders to push companies away from exporting e-scrap. Big backing: Fairphone, a European manufacturer of modular mobile devices, has received $7.7 million in new investment.

A firm releases a list of common problems auditors come across in e-scrap processing facilities, and Apple boosts its repair prices. Auditor's perspective: Consulting and auditing firm Greeneye Partners has released a list of issues it commonly finds when inspecting electronics recycli

A new phone gets a rock-bottom score when it comes to repairability, and a Kansas program finds a creative way to reuse scrap electronic components. Upgrade advice: In anticipation of the next iPhone models' release, Refinery29 offers some tips on how best to trade in older devic

Cracked mobile device screens may be able to fix themselves in the future, and two groups will hold a workshop discussing violations of extended producer responsibility laws by online e-commerce sites. Futuristic materials: Self-healing materials could be incorporated into electronics in the future, according to an article from

Mac fans complain that Apple receives unfair scrutiny, and the global e-scrap market is positioned to rise during the next decade. Repair risk: Third-party replacement components pose threats to data security, according to a new report.

Dynamic Recycling undergoes a major expansion in Wisconsin, and Washington state continues to experience reductions in weights collected. Batteryless phone?: Researchers have opened the door to a future cell phone that doesn't need a battery, which could simplify both recycling and use.

California's hike in the fee to fund electronics recycling is explained, and a repair advocacy group accuses OEMs of deflecting pressure to improve repairability. Fee breakdown: California's advanced disposal fee (ADF), which is levied at the point of sale to fund end-of-life management, was raised recently by about $2 per device.