14 DAY TRIAL // A newly released study from the International Data Corporation (IDC) is painting a clear picture of where the U.S. electronics recycling industry is standing and where it is heading to.
According to the report, which is supposedly the most comprehensive of its kind ever conducted in the United States, the industry employs approximately 30,000 workers and has an estimated revenue of over $5 billion.
Another highlight from the report emphasizes the fact that Americans are the largest consumers of electronics, yet only make up for 26% of the electronics recycled worldwide. And as consumers are buying more electronics each year, the industry has no where to go but up.
“This survey shows a booming electronics recycling industry and prescribes a clear path for even more growth,” said ISRI President Robin Wiener. “Electronics recyclers are creating American jobs, adopting an industry standard that will help sustain growth and are recycling electronics here at home.”
Of the more than 3.5 million tons of used and end-of-life electronics collected the survey shows 70 percent by weight is processed in the United States and sold at home or in the global marketplace as commodity grade scrap, such as steel, aluminum, copper, precious metals recovered from circuit boards, glass and plastics.
The study points out that ten percent is resold as functioning equipment and components for direct resell, and less than 18 percent is resold as equipment and components for further repair and refurbishment.
“Increasing household recycling of electronics is a clear challenge that must be addressed by incentivizing the collection of used household equipment,” Wiener said. “Tapping into this market will create even more jobs here at home and significantly reduce the amount of electronics that end up in a landfill.”
Building consumer awareness on the importance of recycling e-waste is vital for human and environmental health. Consumers should keep in mind that due to the variety of toxic components in electronics, it’s important not to throw them away with the regular trash.