Report: U.S. Electronics Recycling Industry Shows Significant Growth

A new report concludes that the U.S. electronics recycling industry has grown substantially in the past decade.

The report by International Data Corp. (IDC), points to an industry that is an economic bright spot in the troubled economy.

“Approximately 3.5 million tons of electronics were recycled by the recycling industry in the United States in 2010, employing more than 30,000 workers with an estimated revenue of over $5 billion,” said David Daoud, IDC’s research director.

“This survey shows a booming electronics recycling industry and prescribes a clear path for even more growth,” said Robin Wiener, president of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. “Electronics recyclers are creating American jobs, adopting an industry standard that will help sustain growth and are recycling electronics here at home.”

The survey shows 70 percent by weight of those 3.5 million tons were processed in the U.S. 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, according to a news release.

There is more growth potential, the survey indicated. While American households account for most of the new electronics market, they only contribute about 26 percent to the electronics recycling sector.

“Increasing household recycling of electronics is a clear challenge that must be addressed by incentivizing the collection of used household equipment,” Wiener said.