Matt McLaughlin, Regional Sales Director for Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the nation’s leading recycler of electronic waste, was among the panelists of a group discussion on the subject of urban mining yesterday at the Colorado Association for Recycling’s Annual Recycling Summit, held at the Pueblo Convention Center in Pueblo, Colorado.
The Summit, now in its 23rd year, is a dynamic conference and exhibition that brings together Colorado’s recycling professionals and individuals dedicated to the principles of recycling. This year’s event, subtitled, “Recycling Makes Dollars and Sense,” featured workshops, panel discussions, a variety of presenters, a two-day exhibit hall, site tours, recycling awards, a silent auction, and networking events.
Yesterday’s panel discussion, “Creating Jobs through Urban Mining,” featured ERI’s McLaughlin and several other industry experts discussing the tremendous promise of harvesting valuable content from used and unwanted consumer electronics and other items recovered from the landfill. The panel was moderated by EPA Region 8 representative Kim Bartels.
“ERI is honored to have our own Matt McLaughlin be asked by the Colorado Association for Recycling to participate in this forward thinking panel,” said John Shegerian, ERI’s Chairman and CEO. “It’s great that we were able to have Matt share our passion for and leadership role in the concept of urban mining – a new frontier in resource recovery that is opening up a potentially endless supply of opportunity and new jobs – in Colorado, nationally and globally. We are proud to be a part of this vital and game changing movement and to be able to share our own experiences with likeminded businesses and professionals.”
During the spirited, well attended panel, McLaughlin discussed how electronics legislation drives job creation and what Colorado state landfill bans can mean for green oriented businesses such as ERI and other recycling organizations.