While the DPP is technically an EU initiative, companies expect U.S. involvement because of the OEM challenges DPPs present, and responses are divided.
International E-Waste Day is fast approaching; do you have a plan? This year, the WEEE Forum’s 2026 theme is Fast Tech and how these low-cost, battery-embedded accessories present a growing e-waste problem.
Responsible IT asset disposition goes beyond simple recycling and includes many avenues such as data security and erasure, value recovery, and parts harvesting in addition to the traditional recycling route. These disposition pathways require ITAD providers to follow strict guidelines to stay compliant throughout the process, but what forces drive compliance behind the scenes?Â
Federal and state policies are starting to treat recovery from end-of-life electronics as a supply chain resilience question rather than a recycling question. This framework is showing up in procurement language and grant programs, and urban mining is receiving more industry attention.Â
Oregon widened its covered-device list for 2026; Illinois and Vermont expanded battery EPR; California added battery-embedded products to its e-waste fee; and Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington enacted right-to-repair laws effective January 1, 2026.Â
The Right to Repair movement continues to grow as new states adopt repair legislation to extend repair capabilities to third parties. Texas recently joined Colorado, Washington, and Connecticut in efforts by passing a repair bill.
Last year, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published Revision 2 of NIST SP 800-88 and withdrew Revision 1 the same day. Shifting focus from per-device sanitization choices to running an enterprise media sanitization program, the updates change how companies must wipe, destroy, and handle retired data-containing hardware.
Responsible ITAD requires the right certifications, and newer state privacy rules extend accountability to service providers. This means companies should increase vendor scrutiny to ensure regulatory compliance.Â
Artificial Intelligence is transforming data center upgrades and decommissioning, making understanding these changes crucial for industry professionals.Â
HOBI’s Director of Operations, Don Simms, recently took center stage on the HOBI Conversations podcast to discuss major industry changes, the data center ITAD process, what’s required for a zero-data-breach record, operational challenges, and more.