The research group International Data Corp. (IDC) has released a report titled "Inside the U.S. Electronics Recycling Industry," which analyzes the domestic electronics recycling industry.
The report claims that while the electronics recycling industry has demonstrated strong growth in the past 10 years, targeted incentives and strategies could further stimulate growth. According to the report, there is a significant opportunity to increase the recycling rates of used electronics, in particular among the residential/household segment.
Highlights of the report include:
- In 2010 the U.S. electronics recycling industry contributed $5.2 billion to the U.S. economy (up from less than $1 billion in 2002).
- The electronics recycling industry employed more than 30,000 people full-time in 2010 (up from 6,000 in 2002) and, when nonprofit organizations are included, the number of peopel the industry employes could be greater than 45,000.
- The domestic electronics recycling sector collected and processed more than 3.5 million tons of used and end-of-life electronics in 2010 (up from 600,000 tons in 2002).
- Of the 3.5 million tons being collected and processed in America, 70 percent by weight is processed in the United States and sold as scrap.
- Ten percent of the obsolete electronics is resold as functioning equipment and components for direct resell; less than 18 percent is resold as equipment and components for further repair and refurbishment.
- While American households account for most of the new electronics market, residential sources only contribute about 26 percent to the electronics recycling market; 74.1 percent of the electronics being recycled come from business and commercial entities.
The IDC study documents key findings of a survey conducted by the IDC in April and May 2011.
More information is available at www.idc.com.