Dive Brief:

• Many businesses began to foray into e-waste collection as start-up costs were generally low; but now, issues surrounding the proper storage and handling of these used electronics are beginning to arise. 
• There is little oversight in place to ensure the proper handling of hazardous materials and to eliminate the risks of a data breach when information is not erased from hard drives. 
• e-End, an e-waste recycler based in Frederick, MD, touts itself as a worry-free company that ensures electronics are recycled properly and will not be discarded into a landfill.

Dive Insight:

Analysts predict that the global waste management market will expand by 14.6% from 2014 to 2018. Demand for electronic waste is growing due to the speed of technological progress, and the rate at which consumer electronics goods are deemed “obsolete.”  A report issued in February projected the e-waste industry to be valued at $41.36 billion by 2019.