John Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the nation’s leading recycler of electronic waste, and Randall Scheps, Director of Consumer Electronics for Alcoa, the world’s leading aluminum producer, were among the participants of an AGRION panel discussion on the problems and promise of e-waste recycling earlier today at the Garden Court Hotel in Palo Alto.
Shegerian and Scheps were joined on the panel by some of the leading authorities on sustainability and electronics today, including Chris Boik, Director of Recycling and Integration for Best Buy; Creighton Charles Bildstein, Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Associated Tele-Networking, Inc. (ATNI); and Sheila Davis, Executive Director of Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition.
AGRION is a global business community focused on energy and sustainability. With offices in New York, San Francisco, Frankfurt, Paris, and Beijing, the mission of AGRION is to connect thought-leaders and executives, within and across borders, for the purposes of business development, education, idea-sharing, and networking. AGRION currently has over 140 member companies spanning a wide spectrum of industries and sectors.
Today’s panel discussion, “E-Cycling Dollars & Sense: Handling E-Waste Profitably,” featured a discussion that focused on electronic waste, the fastest growing waste stream in the world today. The lively conversation covered issues ranging from how companies can profit from recycling unwanted consumer electronics to responsible recycling to the value of various regional and national regulations and watch dog groups.
Shegerian also discussed the promise of urban mining for metals, plastics, glass and “rare earth metals and magnets” in the ever deepening pool of unwanted consumer electronics.
“It’s an honor to have been asked to participate in this prestigious AGRION panel alongside such esteemed co-panelists, on the very relevant and important topic of electronic recycling,” said Shegerian. “It is particularly rewarding to be communicating with the members of AGRION – who are already so passionate about sustainability and to have the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences.”
“Consumer Electronics is a growing market for aluminum due to the metal’s light weight, durability, heat conductivity, aesthetic qualities and infinite recyclability,” said Alcoa’s Randall Scheps. “As one of the world’s biggest aluminum recyclers, Alcoa is leading industry efforts to increase consumer recycling, solve the e-waste challenge, and further enhance sustainability in the consumer electronics market.”