Registration required / $75 fee / registration fee waived for members of Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse
States and entities hiring recyclers still struggle with tracking potential stockpiling of CRT TVs and monitors and handling cleanup efforts after sites are abandoned. Another struggle is the challenge to maintain consistent, comprehensive collection programs. Other products and countries have used eco-fees as the basis of financing collection programs, and there are more discussions in the U.S. to explore their use here. This workshop dives deep into the CRT issues and solutions being considered by stakeholders and explores how state programs most effectively address the issue.
Locking Down Data Security – Bob Johnson, founder and CEO, National Association for Information Destruction
This presentation addresses a range of emerging operational and regulatory issues related to data security that are increasingly affecting electronics recyclers and their customers. It includes a discussion on methods for managing both service-provider and client data protection compliance, and explains how doing so translates into improved sales and profits.
State Law Analysis – Jason Linnell, co-founder and executive director, NCER
State e-scrap laws in the U.S. are undergoing shifts, with two diverging tracks emerging. Some states are still struggling to ensure adequate collection that meets consumer demands; others are seeing gradual but steady declines in collection volume. Working on the assumption it's unlikely additional states will pass laws in the near future, an expert outlines key trends to watch in the 25 states (plus Washington, D.C.) that have e-scrap laws in place.
Digging Into the Stream – Sarah Downes, environmental affairs manager, ProSUM
The European Commission (EC) has enacted policy and legislative drivers to increase the recovery of materials from WEEE, improve self-sufficiency for materials and drive forward a circular economy. The EC-funded ProSUM project is building an inventory of available data to assist the recycling industry in Europe in understanding what WEEE is in stock now (in households and businesses), what material it contains, and how it will shift in the future.
Insights on Enterprise – David Daoud, analyst, Compliance Standards
Last year proved to be difficult for many in the ITAD space in the United States. Vendors and service providers did not see any substantial growth in their business sector. Meanwhile, the evolution in leadership in this market, coupled with changes in national politics, are causing notable shifts and raising questions on the demand side. This presentation covers the latest trends in ITAD and enterprise recycling, highlighting critical issues on both the demand and supply sides.
Sensors, shredders and more – Rafael Reveles, president, Converge Engineering
Recyclers have new options to improve bottom-line performance, with tools such as resolution sensors, smarter shredders, portable assets, and equipment that allows for real-time machine monitoring and troubleshooting,. Evolving techniques in engineering make implementing new plants and additions less expensive and more accurate. This presentation reviews these technological opportunities for processors.
Robotic realities – Matanya Horowitz, founder, AMP Robotics
The last several years have seen the entrance of robotics into facilities handling municipal solid waste. These systems promise a number of benefits including the low-retrofit automation of pick lines, the sorting of problematic materials and a new avenue of data collection. In this talk, the founder of a robotics technology company discussed some of these advancements and the potential application in electronics recycling.
Sound strategy – Peter Holgate, founder, Ronin8
This presentation details one company's development of a platform technology that uses sound energy to separate materials according to their specific gravity. The strategy can create clean fiberglass from a non-metal concentrate, and it can also facilitate the use of less solvent and higher recovery to manage exo-thermic reactions.
The metallic composition of recovered boards is different today than in the past, the volume of material has grown quickly and the relationship between the supplier and the consumer is being altered. At the same time, new assay techniques have been developed to address changes in material types and flows. For a better understanding of these factors, veterans of the precious metals sector offer perspective.
– Moderator: Greg Voorhees, director of recycling management, MRM Recycling
From PCB Back to Metal – Joe Bernhardt, senior manager of recycling and precious metals, Aurubis
This presentation focuses on the composition and value of printed circuit boards. It all discusses how material is recovered and why copper smelting is well suited to process this commodity. Finally, the analysis explores different processes used for the recovery of printed circuit boards around the world.
Innovation and Expansion Downstream – Hisashi Tateyashiki, general manager of recycling business department, Metals Company of Mitsubishi Materials Corporation.
Mitsubishi Materials Corporation is responding to the increasing demands of e-scrap recycling by expanding smelting and refining capabilities in Japan, and the company has pushed forward sampling and assaying techniques to bolster purchasing practices to benefit both the firm and its suppliers. Further, a new sampling facility run by a Mitsubishi subsidiary in the Netherlands is under construction, with expectations to open by the end of 2017. A corporate leader lays out the details on these developments and explains how they support continued growth in electronics recovery around the world.
Innovation in Extractive Metallurgy – Duane Nelson, CEO and president, EnviroLeach Technologies, Inc.
EnviroLeach is a technology company that recovers precious metals from ores, concentrates and electronic waste using environmentally friendly technologies. A company leader outlines new processes and the underlying chemistry for the environmentally friendly extraction of metals from end-of-life electronics.
Many electronics reuse and recycling firms struggle in getting the word out about their services and programs. To address this issue, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries has convened a panel of communications professions who offer insight on seeding stories in local news outlets, leveraging social media and fostering positive public opinion toward industry enterprises.
Moderator: Dan Leif, managing editor, E-Scrap News
On media and marketing – Kent Kiser, publisher, Scrap Magazine
What are the keys to cracking the media market to gain positive coverage for your electronics recycling company and for yourself as an e-scrap expert? And what tips of the trade can increase your odds for success? A veteran industry journalist offers his take on how to get the media exposure you want and deserve.
Strategically bolstering the brand – Stephanie Oden, senior marketing and communications specialist, Sims Recycling Solutions.
A successful content marketing strategy occurs when a company is working off of a plan that is consistently aligned with its business goals. This industry-focused presentation discusses how you can strategically develop relevant content for your blog, email, press release and social media efforts that will build brand awareness, engagement, conversion and loyalty.
Reaching the consumer – Walter Alcorn, vice president of environmental affairs and industry sustainability, Consumer Technology Association
A longtime electronics recycling leader outlines CTA's communications activities on electronics recycling issues, including consumer education and legislative advocacy. The presentation also discusses how recycling messaging is integrated into CTA's broader communication and advocacy efforts.
Detailing a campaign – Adam Dumes, vice president, Cohen Recycling
As the electronics recycling and repair industry becomes increasingly global, key developments abroad are becoming central to operations in the U.S. Panelists offer engrossing perspectives from the front lines of materials management in China, India, the Middle East and Europe.
– Moderator: Eric Harris, Regency Technologies
E-scrap Evolution in China – Elwin Meng, senior manager, government affairs, Umicore
China is the world's biggest manufacturer of electronic products – and also the biggest producer of e-waste globally. In 2012, China started to implement a WEEE regulation to promote proper management of scrap electronics, and today China has 109 qualified WEEE dismantlers and 14 categories are covered by the WEEE regulation. This talk analyzes the legislative developments in China, making compelling comparisons between the Asian giant and the U.S.
Middle East Complications – Anne Peters, president, Gracestone, Inc.
This presentation describes work undertaken by a coalition of U.S., Israeli and Palestinian nonprofit groups related to burning of scrap electronics in the West Bank. A participant in the project outlines the situation, including a mature though informal repair/refurbish sector in the West Bank, informal collection in Israel, Israel's poorly implemented electronics product stewardship law, and the ways e-scrap ties into ongoing geopolitical disagreements in the region.
Informal Integration in India – Verena Radulovic, Photojournalist
In India, the informal (or "unregistered") sector collects, dismantles and recycles over 90 percent of the country's growing tonnages of electronic scrap. Over the last decade, stakeholders in India have tried different approaches to leverage the collection and dismantling strengths of the informal sector while establishing more formal operations. But economic, social and regulatory barriers persist. With government-mandated electronics recycling rules having recently gone into effect, this presentation offers a timely look at ongoing strategies looking to foster more environmentally sustainable recycling systems that also include the informal sector.
The e-scrap flow is changing rapidly, with mercury-bearing flat-panel displays (FPDs) becoming a larger part of the stream. The safe and profitable management of flat-panel displays, however, is far from a sure thing. A handful of experts provide an important update on where things stand with the stream.
– Moderator: Lynn Rubinstein, executive director, Northeast Recycling Council
From the cell phones we use to the cars we drive, rechargeable batteries are all around us. With the proliferation of rechargeable batteries comes opportunities and challenges for recyclers to ensure that they are handled responsibly. Due to their chemical composition and the way they are constructed, special care and knowledge is required in recycling. This session covers how to process batteries and what new market segments have opened to take more of the material. Learn the details on the life cycle of batteries, recycling best practices, considerations for sourcing critical materials, necessary safety precautions, and more.
– Moderator: George Hinkle, president and partner, ARCOA Group
Recycling Realities of Electric Vehicles – Michael Burz, president and co-founder, EnZinc
The growing number of electric cars entering the market today means more lithium-ion batteries will be headed to the waste stream soon. This presentation from a battery expert dives into the specifics of the product transition taking place on roads across the world. It also lays out what makes up a large-scale lithium-ion batteries and the cautions that should be considered in recycling.
Nearby Disney Springs (formerly called Downtown Disney) offers entertainment, dining and shopping delights. The conference shuttle gets attendees to the area in a flash.
When departing the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, the shuttle bus will pick up conference attendees just to the left of the hotel's front entrance. The shuttle bus will depart the hotel at 7:00 P.M., 8:00 P.M., 9:00 P.M. and 10:00 P.M.
When departing Disney Springs, the shuttle bus will pick up conference attendees on the West Side, in front of the Cirque Du Soleil building. The shuttle bus will depart Disney Springs at 7:30 P.M., 8:30 P.M., 9:30 P.M. and 10:30 P.M. Those attendees who don't get the last bus at 10:30 P.M. will need to find personal transportation back to the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate.
Shuttle bus tickets are included in the conference folder given to attendees when they pick up their name badge at registration. If tickets are misplaced, an attendee's name badge will serve as shuttle ticket. The shuttle operates on a first-come-first-served basis.
Sponsored by Trinity
With the rise of repair and reuse, the role of traditional electronics recycling is changing fast. Markets for recovered metals and other materials are volatile, new laws have been implemented and new players have entered the field. Where are we headed? What are the opportunities and the barriers associated with commodities recovery? This panel takes an in-depth look at the ways companies need to adjust their recycling operations to stay in line with current trends shaping profitability.
– Moderator: Caitlin Sanchez, counsel, VIZIO, Inc.
CRT TVs and monitors continue to enter the e-scrap stream, accounting for the majority of weight in many programs. At the same time, some downstream options for the material have disappeared or are shifted their strategies. We've convened a diverse group of speakers who are working in different ways to make critical CRT decisions and chart paths forward to handle the material effectively, from both an environmental and economic perspective.
– Moderator: Jeff Bednar, chief of the waste reduction and recycling section, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
State agency analysis – Sarah Murray, E-Cycle Wisconsin coordinator, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. A state program administrator reviews trends in CRT collection, outlines the increasing costs of CRT management and discusses where CRT glass has been going in the state of late. She also explains steps taken to try to ensure responsible recycling in the program and lays out some of the legal and practical constraints surrounding CRT end markets.
EPA updates – Liabeth Yohannes, international policy analyst, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. An expert from the EPA outlines the CRT recycling landscape from the federal perspective and provides an overview of the federal CRT regulations, including updates to some of the CRT export requirements.
Never before has so much momentum existed around electronics repair, but obstacles remain. Legal roadblocks, challenges accessing industry data and shifts in the material stream are just a few realities that are holding back the full potential of device refurbishment. Leaders in the field dive into the topic and debate ideas for pushing the sector forward.
– Moderator: Jeff Sacre, executive director, CHWMEG
Keeping up the fight – Kyle Wiens, co-founder and CEO, iFixit
Mobile devices are increasingly valuable and challenging to repair. As recyclers are hiring service technicians and expanding their asset management businesses, the battle to repair our things is happening in the courtroom and on the workbench. With legislation pending in 12 states, attendees get an update from the leader of the Right to Repair movement.
A Fresh Initiative – Jim Puckett, executive director, e-Stewards
There is widespread agreement that more electronic equipment should be reused. To help push the industry in that direction, BAN’s e-Stewards program is announcing the launch of a new reuse opportunity that addresses some of the known reuse barriers while assisting refurbishers, enterprise companies and municipal programs.
Growth Through Data – Bob Houghton, CEO, Sage Sustainable Electronics
Conventional “cut lines” are wasteful, leading to more recycling and reduced financial returns. A value-based, data-driven approach to electronics reuse improves both yields and average selling prices. An industry veteran discusses how to utilize market insight from sources such as Sage BlueBook in dynamic work flows that maximize rewards while minimizing environmental impact.
An OEM's Take on Repairability – John Ortiz, director of Product Stewardship, Hewlett-Packard Inc.
The rapid pace of innovation and obsolescence in electronic products is increasing the urgency for a structure in which used products and materials are repurposed and kept in use as long as possible. HP designs products for longevity, provides customers with guidance on how to maintain them, and provides comprehensive repair, refurbishment, reuse and recycling programs. An executive offers insight on enabling repair, the challenges of design, the influence of business models and 3-D printing as an enabler of repairability.
The rapid expansion of internet connectivity beyond the boundaries of IT departments and personal computers is leading to major changes in how electronic devices are manufactured and used – and how they will be recycled. Our wireless devices and other electronics are getting smaller, more powerful and more capable with every new release. And with this trend, devices are manufactured with far fewer materials than the predecessors before them. This session brings together industry experts to offer valuable insight into the changing markets and technologies.
– Moderator: John Birkholz, business development manager, AERC Recycling Solutions
An OEM perspective – Puneet Shrivastava, principal environmental engineer, Dell
In this presentation, a Dell representative discusses the company's product design process from the end-of-life perspective. He also covers how the OEM is engaging with recycling partners as we head into an environment with more embedded technology. How can we manage and make sense of all the data now available and make the best choices about disposition of electronic material?Finally, he will share the Dell Legacy of Good 2020 plan and give an update on several key Dell product initiatives that have played a key role in advancing the circular economy.
How chain is changing – Craig Boswell, co-founder and president, HOBI International, Inc.
The evolving IT landscape looks different today than it did last year. The increase in enterprise mobile assets, growth of big data centers, cloud expansion and the proliferation of the IoT have all changed the way we manage our mobile and IT assets. As a result, every link in the ITAM chain faces new and different sets of challenges in managing the process of data destruction and equipment disposal. A leader from a company that handles and processes mobile and IT materials discusses how the industry is changing.
In recent years, the notion of a circular economy has increasingly shaped goals and policies within governments, corporate boardrooms and academia. The approach encourages companies and society as a whole to put greater emphasis on product reuse and materials recycling, and e-scrap stakeholders stand to gain as electronics manufacturers, policymakers and others embrace a more circular future. Our closing session explores how the vast and evolving concept could send revenue ripples out into the world of electronics recovery.
– Moderator: Carole Mars, senior research lead, The Sustainability Consortium
Mapping Out New Possibilities – Wayne Rifer, board member, the National Center for Electronics Recycling. A consortium of electronics stakeholders called the International Electronics Manufacturers Initiative (iNEMI) recently developed a report called the "Sustainable Electronics Roadmap" and several related projects that focus on value recovery from used electronics, reuse and revamped product design. A leader from the group provides an overview of the analysis, identifying technology and strategies that can lead to a more sustainable and economically viable electronics industry.
Past, Present and Future of the Stream – David Refkin, president, GreenPath Sustainability Consultants. An innovative collaboration between the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), the Staples Sustainable Innovation Lab, and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has created a sustainable materials management model to analyze the material footprint of consumer technology in U.S. households. The baseline results indicate that while the number and type of products sold have increased, the net material consumption has declined to levels not seen since the early 1990s. This presentation delivers details on how the material stream has shifted in recent decades and describes the project's next step: modeling the future material footprint of drones, wearables and other emerging technologies.
