e-Stewards at E-Scrap 2025

E-Scrap 2025 was an energizing week for the electronics reuse and recycling community, and we were proud to participate in our biggest way yet.

First, a huge thank you to the Resource Recycling, Inc. team for producing another outstanding conference that continues to bring together the best minds in the industry.

We are also grateful to the panelists who joined Jim Puckett for a powerful discussion on global e-waste trade and accountability, alongside findings from Basel Action Network’s latest investigative report. The openness and insights shared helped advance one of the most important conversations our industry can have.

We also appreciated the chance to co-host a joint session with i-SIGMA, led by Jennie Gift, focused on certifications and the real-world ROI they can deliver. And we were glad to have the Bloom ESG team with us to share perspectives on ESG reporting and demonstrate the e-Stewards + Bloom ESG ITAD Environmental Benefits Calculator—helping certified processors measure and report avoided emissions with credible data.

Thank you again to everyone who stopped by, participated, and helped make E-Scrap 2025 such a meaningful event. We left encouraged by the momentum and excited for what’s ahead.

Leadership Council Convenes in Austin

Last week, the e-Stewards Leadership Council gathered in Austin, Texas for our annual meeting, marking the first time we have ever held the Leadership Council meeting in Austin. It brought together a group of engaged leaders from across electronics recycling and ITAD.

Over two days, we dug into the biggest issues shaping our industry, exchanged perspectives, and worked through where the e-Stewards program should focus next. The participation, candor, and shared commitment in the room made this one of our strongest Leadership Council meetings yet.

Outside the sessions, we had the chance to enjoy some Austin hospitality and great BBQ, along with the kind of conversations that remind us what makes this community special.

A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us, both in person and virtually. Your time, ideas, and leadership continue to help move responsible recycling forward.

Brokers of Shame Report Update:

Following the October 22 release of BAN's two-year investigation into the unethical and potentially illegal export of electronic waste, we at BAN and at e-Stewards have some progress to report.

Ad Hoc Reports

First, word of mouth from the marketplace conversations that have been reported to us indicate that many electronics recyclers and ITAD companies are scrambling to relinquish their ties to the 10 companies and their DBA or sister-company affiliates named in Appendix A of our report. Others have unfortunately not done so and may be looking for ways the cheaper, albeit harmful downstream avenues of the Brokers of Shame can still be exploited without being detected by the R2 or e-Stewards Standards, or by national authorities in countries such as Malaysia.

e-Steward Action

The e-Stewards Leadership Council held its most recent meeting on November 12-13. The topic of unlawful and non-conforming (to e-Stewards and R2) exports dominated the meeting, and the Leadership Council was unanimous in seeking ways to ensure that the report becomes a vehicle for sustained reform—not just a one-off media bombshell.

Sessions explored ways we can modify the Standard, our performance verification system, and training and expectations for auditors, e-Stewards, and the industry at large, to enable the Certification to catch cheaters and address unscrupulous traders and those using them.

We conducted a survey at the Leadership Council meeting and followed it with a wider survey of the full e-Stewards membership on the best and most cost-effective ways to eliminate illegal and non-conforming e-waste trade. It is our aim to announce some immediate reforms in early January.

The Leadership Council also agreed to issue a call for disclosure by each e-Stewards Certified Processor regarding their future use of any of the 10 identified brokers. The concern was not only about violations of the text of the standard itself with respect to non-conforming exports to non-OECD countries but the damage done to the overall reputation of the e-Stewards program, by any form of direct continued business with such companies. Thus, it was agreed that all e-Stewards Certified Processors and companies in progress would receive a letter on November 19, 2025 asking them to sign one of two statements by November 22, 2025:

1. Will not do business with the 10 identified brokers:

Our organization confirms that, as of November 22, 2025, we are not engaged in, and have no plans to enter into, any business relationship or contract with the 10 brokers (or their known subsidiaries or rebranded entities) referenced in Appendix A of the BAN report. Nor will we knowingly allow our downstream vendors to do business with these companies for any Materials of Concern (MOCs) on the pathway to final disposition.

2. Will do business with the 10 identified brokers:

Our organization will, after November 22, 2025, engage in a business relationship or contract with one of the 10 brokers (or their known subsidiaries or rebranded entities) referenced in Appendix A of the BAN report for the handling of Materials of Concern (MOCs). We understand that this disclosure may prompt e-Stewards to review relevant documentation under the Critical Non-Conformity policy to confirm conformity with the e-Stewards Standard.

All Certified e-Stewards have now signed the first version, committing themselves to not using these companies going forward. This is a very important step and message to the greater industry writ large.

Action by Other Processors

We hope that all other recyclers, certified with R2 and uncertified, make the same commitment. Of course, if these 10 companies can convincingly demonstrate that they intend to change their business model, the policy can be revisited. And of course there are likely to be other exporting brokers identified in the future.

BAN has had initial communications with SERI regarding their efforts to remove or sanction violators of the R2 Standard. We believe they too face challenges in improving enforcement and have already engaged in various reform activities. In particular, the SERI standard allows brokers to become certified, and 8 of the companies identified had achieved R2 Certification.

We observe that, of the 10 brokers identified in Brokers of Shame, the following changes have been recorded on the SERI website. What follows is not claimed to be an official accounting by SERI:

We aim to continue the conversation with SERI on how best to reform the industry and how we can join forces in doing so, in particular by educating the industry and their members as to the particulars of international waste trade laws.

Other Inquiries Pending

As noted in the report, several questions remain unanswered:



— The Defense Logistics Agency—the procurement and disposal arm of the U.S. Department of Defense—was reported as having signed a major e-waste disposal contract with GEM Iron and Metal, one of the Brokers of Shame. We aim to look deeper into this situation.

— The U.S. retailer Best Buy has been noted, via its take-back program and Iron Mountain, as contributing GPS-tagged e-waste to Brokers of Shame exporters. We aim to investigate further.

— Iron Mountain is currently undergoing an e-Stewards Critical Non-Conformity investigation for potential violations of the e-Stewards Standard prior to the release of Brokers of Shame. A final determination has not yet been concluded.

— The California DTSC is currently responding to BAN’s requests for documentation regarding implementation of the Universal Waste Law and the SB20 Recycling Act. We aim to look deeper into this matter as well.

Likely Reforms on the Horizon

While we are still collating notes from the Leadership Council and membership surveys, it is likely that our reform package next year will include:

1. Heightened training and scrutiny of auditors and the audit process
2. An expanded and more rigorous unannounced inspection program
3. Greater use of GPS tracking
4. More rigorous, thorough, and timely Downstream Vendor Reporting

e-Stewards is gratified that our Certified Processors continue to want to be caught doing the right thing through program enhancements that improve rigor and verification. We hope to announce a first round of common-sense conformity improvements while continuing to seek common ground with SERI to reform the industry.

Please stay tuned for future updates.

e-Stewards Standard Tip

Annual Database Report



The Annual Database Report is coming due on January 31^st for all e-Stewards Certified Processors. This report provides information regarding all Electronic Equipment moving through an organization’s control, documenting the weight or unit count of material going for recycling and for reuse. A comprehensive list of all information asked can be found in Appendix A of the e-Stewards Standard, under A.6.1.4.1 Annual Reporting to the e-Stewards Database. One form should be completed for each processing facility, and should represent calendar year 2025.

In addition to each processor providing a current copy of their site closure plan, a current copy of the Downstream Disposition Chart for each processing facility shall be provided, including weights shipped to each Immediate Downstream Provider during the reporting period. This updated requirement can be found in the Sanctioned Interpretations that were passed in May of 2024.

The form for submitting this information can be found on the e-Stewards website, located here.

For more information or questions on this requirement or interpretations of the standard, please contact e-Stewards Certification Director Selena Turnock at selena@e-Stewards.org.

About e-Stewards:

The e-Stewards® Initiative is a market-based solution to help individuals and organizations identify and promote electronics recyclers who ensure that used electronics are managed with the highest environmental and social responsibility standards. e-Stewards Certified Recyclers and Refurbishers are audited and certified to ensure the highest levels of responsibility. e-Stewards Enterprises are major corporations, municipalities, nonprofits, or institutions that agree to make their best efforts to use e-Stewards Certified Recyclers. e-Stewards is a program established by the environmental advocacy organization Basel Action Network. See e-Stewards Video.

Do you have news, photos, or videos about your company? We welcome submissions and invite you to share ideas with info@e-stewards.org. Thank you for reading!