Marine plastic pollution is an emerging issue within the international community and is widely covered by the media. Plastic debris is the main source of shoreline pollution. A large percentage of plastic materials are found near popular tourist destinations and densely populated areas, especially within developing countries lacking waste management capacity and infrastructure. However, plastics…
By 2025, data centers are expected to be the largest global energy users at 4.5 percent, an increase from just 0.9 percent in 2015. Currently 43 percent of companies do not have an existing environmental policy and half of those companies do not plan on developing one. Some of the reasons for avoiding environmental efforts…
In many countries, producers of electronic or electrical equipment are also responsible for offering a takeback system for consumer electronics at end-of-life. To measure the performance of these systems, manufacturers and importers are obliged to report to the local government. Measurement is often based on a percentage of the collected weight versus the weight placed…
Written by Patricia Whiting, Sr. International Policy Analyst for Sims Recycling Solutions Over the past decade or so, policy makers have promoted a move away from the historic linear economic model of “take-make-waste” that grew out of the industrial revolution. This shift has led us toward a circular economic model emphasizing sustainability and accompanied by…
It is that time of year. A time to reflect and identify opportunities to improve going forward. It has been quite a year for the IT and electronics industry which is what makes asset disposal plans one to focus on in the New Year. Growing data security threats and increasing momentum in our progress toward…
It was 16 years ago when SRS representatives walked the halls of the Rosen Centre in Orlando for the very first E-Scrap Conference. With a few hundred attendees it was clear the e-waste industry was starting to see rapid growth in demand. Today this event has evolved to be one of the biggest annual conferences…
41.8 million tonnes (Mt) of electronic waste was generated in 2014, with a value of circa $52 billion, according to the United Nations. These types of material goods generate large amounts of physical waste, and their production can account for more than 80 percent of their through-life carbon footprint. The recycling and reuse of these…
As a manufacturer looking for sustainable growth opportunities you may seek new ways to adopt more circular business models. By implementing a circular approach you will extend product lifecycles, recycling secondary raw materials, and increase reuse while focusing on positive society-wide benefits. It is critical to build sustainability into your business ecosystem to deliver true…
Electronics and gadgets become more and more seamlessly woven into the fabric of our lives every day. As the internet of things continues to simplify modern day life, recyclers are kept busy adapting to new material compositions, shrinking product sizes and increasing volumes of e-waste. As a part of a dynamic industry, e-waste recyclers are…
When one really dives into how most electronic devices are made it all starts with the mining industry, where the raw materials originate. The top 40 mining companies in the world reported 512B USD of revenue in 2013 and in order to keep the processes moving forward to continue earning a substantial amount of energy…