Mark Kasper of Clean Earth supports the right to repair movement and wants to see more electronics manufacturers follow Microsoft's lead, making manuals and parts available to repair devices.

Electronics are the fastest growing waste stream in the world. On average, the total weight (excluding photovoltaic panels) of global electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) consumption increases annually by 2.5 million metric tons. When these electronics near the end of their useful lives, they become e-waste or e-scrap . Not only can the aluminum, glass and plastic from e-scrap be recycled, but other valuable components that include copper, mercury and gold can be segregated and processed for reuse, and reintroduced back into the economy, generating less waste and more value.

Multinational technology corporation Microsoft recently became the first large company to join the right to repair movement, committing to increase its customers’ options to repair devices by the end of 2022. The announcement was a major and thus far unprecedented win for the movement, which aims to increase access to once-proprietary information, giving individuals and refurbishers the ability to repair and modify consumer electronic devices. (Apple also recently announced that it would make manuals and parts available to consumers who are interested in repairing their devices themselves.)

The right to repair means refurbishers can extend the life of a product for its current user or find the product a second home with a new user, which works toward reducing the 2.5 million metric tons of consumption. Wider acceptance of this movement would require original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to release information regarding the components they use in manufacturing, blueprints on how devices are put together and information on how parts and components can be replaced.

Microsoft plans to hire an independent consultant to study the ways increasing access to the parts and information could cut down on electronic waste. Increasing access to parts is a significant shift because oftentimes the manufacturer requires consumers to use their authorized services only rather than allowing the consumer to repair it themselves or going to a skilled refurbisher.

Overall, this movement could mean less e-waste is produced. The sheer volume of e-waste and its final destination are growing issues, as the recycling rate for e-waste is less than 20 percent globally, and in the U.S., it is less than 10 percent. It also is uncertain as to how the other 80 to 90 percent of e-waste is managed during the disposal process and the location of final placement. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an undetermined amount of used electronics are shipped from the U.S. and other developed countries to countries that lack the capacity to reject imports or to handle these materials appropriately.

Because these electronics contain toxic heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium and mercury, e-waste that is improperly discarded can potentially leach into groundwater and soil, which can be harmful to human health and our environment. That’s why, when electronics have reached end of life, they must be handled in a responsible and compliant manner, with a focus on solutions that reduce their potential environmental impact.

Failure to impose proper standards and enforcement could result in public health and environmental concerns, even in countries where processing facilities exist. If these end-of-life devices are instead sent to a legitimate, certified recycler, then no environmental harm is caused, and commodities generated can return to the reuse market as part of the circular economy.

Put simply, circulating devices back into the reuse market can slow the consumption of new electronics. Harvesting parts also can help in the manufacturing of new devices. The progress toward a circular economy has generated resistance from OEMs, as the right to repair movement allows used products to stay in circulation longer, therefore cutting down on the purchase of new products.

To ensure proper handling, more countries are taking action by creating policies to improve the collection of unwanted electronics. The annual Global E-waste Monitor reports that, since 2014, the number of countries that have adopted a national e-waste policy, legislation or regulation has increased from 61 to 78 countries. However, regulatory advances in some regions are slow, enforcement is poor and policy, legislation or regulation do not yet stimulate the collection and proper management of e-waste because of lack of investment and political motivation.

Beyond the right to repair, the future of electronics recycling ensures secure data destruction. For effective electronics disposal and recycling, companies like Clean Earth have established a dual focus: benefiting the environment by reducing waste while safeguarding private data.

An e-waste management partner should be committed to proper end-of-life management of electronics containing sensitive data and components hazardous to the environment backed by proper permits, certifications and available reporting. Consumers and businesses need to feel assured regarding what happens to their data when their electronics are spent. Every cellphone, GPS and laptop says a lot about an individual and their habits—how they bank, what they buy, where they drive—and it needs to be protected. All e-scrap recycling solutions also should confirm that data from discarded electronics are safe and secure, and teams handling the material should do their part to promote the correct treatment of WEEE to enable reuse and recycling.

The hope is that more companies will follow Microsoft’s lead in the future, and join the right to repair movement, as the ability to repair devices will ultimately reduce e-waste. Extending the lifetime of devices through repair is essential to meeting climate goals and creating a circular economy.

Mark Kasper is chief operations officer for Clean Earth’s Electronic and Universal Waste Division. Kasper is responsible for all operational aspects of the company’s six electronic and universal waste facilities located across the United States. With more than 30 years of experience in the hazardous waste industry and 17 years specializing in electronic and universal waste, he has extensive operational knowledge across several industry verticals and waste technologies to provide customized waste disposal and recycling solutions.

The units promise to be maintenance-friendly.

Eriez’s newest eccentric eddy current separator, the RevX-E, gives customers high-quality performance in a more maintenance-friendly package, according to the manufacturer.

Chris Ramsdell, separation and recycling product manager for Erie, Pennsylvania-based Eriez, says the company consulted with recycling customers and designed the RevX-E to meet their needs. “We consistently heard the same demands from customers: They wanted high power with low maintenance, minimal downtime and a longer service life. We delivered on all these points with our RevX-E eddy current separator.”

Eriez’s RevX-E features an eccentrically mounted magnetic rotor within a nonconductive shell for separating nonferrous metals. The rare earth rotor produces a powerful field focused at the end of the belt, the manufacturer says.

“We thought a lot about ease of maintenance when developing this machine,” Ramsdell says.

The RevX-E’s updated design takes up less floor space and incorporates a cantilevered frame that enables maintenance staff to change the belt in less than 10 minutes. A new hood with an adjustable splitter allows operators to handle nonferrous materials in varying sizes and ensures optimum separation. Large access panels all around the machine are designed to facilitate entry for maintenance. Units also include direct drive for both the rotor and conveyor.

The RevX-E is available in the ST22 and LT2, which are manufactured on the same eddy current separator framework. Ramsdell says the only difference between the ST22 and LT2 is the magnet configuration on the rotor assemblies.

The ST22 features a 22-pole rare earth eccentric rotor and is designed to handle fine materials that are less than 1 inch. This rotor option offers a high pole change frequency for the removal of fine nonferrous metals from shredded plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, the company says.

The LT2 features an eight-pole rare earth eccentric rotor and is designed to handle 1-inch and larger coarse materials. Eriez says this rotor option offers a deep, high-powered eddy current field that allows for the removal of larger nonferrous metals, such as crushed aluminum cans from a PET bottle stream. 

Andrew G. Kireta Jr. will become the president and CEO of the Copper Development Association Inc. Jan. 1, 2022.

Andrew G. Kireta Jr. will become the president and CEO of the Copper Development Association Inc. (CDA), headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Jan. 1, 2022. He succeeds Thomas S. Passek, who is retiring after nearly seven years with the organization. 

“The Copper Development Association's board of directors is thankful for the nearly seven years of thoughtfulness, balance and skill with which Thom led the organization,” says Devin Denner, chairman of CDA’s board of directors and president of Wieland Chase LLC, Montpelier, Ohio. “He has encouraged and stimulated member engagement, navigated the organization through a period of significant change and created a culture of staff support and growth. He has left his mark and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Denner adds, "We’re confident that Andy will continue to lead CDA and its member companies forward to a position of strength and resilience, necessary for bringing the value of copper and its alloys to society.” 

Kireta brings nearly 30 years of copper industry experience to his new role. He has been with CDA since 1992, having previously served in multiple roles in market development, strategy and organizational management in regional and national roles, most recently as vice president of market development across all copper and copper alloy product and market areas. Kireta also has served in various team roles with the International Copper Association (ICA), including time as the leader of the global strategy team, and as a board member with various roles on the executive committee of ASTM International including a term as the 2020 chair of the board.

“Andy has immense knowledge of copper markets and the opportunities and challenges associated with copper use. He is well-known throughout the industry and has the respect and trust of the CDA staff team," Passek says. "His support and leadership during my seven years shows his character and confirms that he is ideally placed to take on this new role.” 

Trade association says its Vision 2050 plan, calling for increased recycling, can produce 70 percent decarbonization.

Brussels-based European Aluminium, which has many of the continent’s largest aluminum producers as members, says its goal “is to strive for a truly sustainable economy, supporting the Paris Agreement and delivering on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.” The organization points to “increased recycling” as a factor in reaching that goal.

To do that, the group says, will require “a deep transformation and renewal of our existing industrial base and assets.”

European Aluminium says its “I+ Manifesto” is a call to action for the “next EU leaders to set the right framework conditions for the industry to achieve its full strategic potential.” The manifesto “builds on the conclusions of our Vision 2050,” adds the group.

The Vision 2050 plan, says the group, “shows potential to decarbonize our production processes along the whole value chain. Total CO2emission reductions will come from increased recycling and a 70 percent decarbonization in the primary sector.”

European Aluminium continues, “We call for a bold and fully fledged EU industrial strategy with its vision and goals rooted in its wider strategy of sustainable development and commitments under the Paris Agreement. The strategy should aim to coordinate regional, national and European policy efforts. A new governance approach between the different decision-making levels should help to define competencies and be instrumental in meeting EU industrial performance goals by 2030 and 2050.”

Production in the United States has risen slightly between Nov. 7 and Nov. 20.

After three consecutive weeks of slight decline, steel output in the United States is back on the uptick, according to the Washington-based American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

AISI says in the week ending Nov. 20, domestic raw steel production was 1.86 million tons, representing a 0.3 percent increase from the previous week’s output. Likewise, production during that previous week (ending Nov. 13) rose by 0.8 percent compared with the week ending Nov. 6.

From Oct. 17 to Nov. 5, steel output in the U.S. had shown signs of tapering off slightly. However, the 1.86 million tons of steel made during the third week of November is back to where it was in late October in terms of weekly output.

AISI says the capability utilization (mill capacity) rate was 84.3 percent in the week ending Nov. 20, meaning it is still below an 85.3 percent rate reached in mid-October.

Year-to-date production through November 20 stands at more than 84.4 million tons, representing a 19.9 percent boost from the 70.4 million tons made during the same period in 2020. During those first 11 months of last year, the capacity rate averaged just 67.7 percent.

Geographically in the third week of November, the AISI’s Southern region was the top producer, making 787,000 tons, followed by the Great Lakes at 617,000 tons; the Midwest with 205,000 tons; the North East at 175,000 tons; and AISI’s Western region at 77,000 tons of output.