Robots Could Turn E-Waste Into a Source of Legacy Chips
Shannon Cuthrell
Electronic waste is moving up on regulatory agendas in 2026: New European waste-shipment rules, expanded recycling fees on products with non-removable batteries in California, and an e-waste import ban in Malaysia, for example, are all increasing pressure to recover more value before electronics are shredded or exported. The world is projected to generate 82 million tonnes of e-waste annually by 2030, according to the United Nations’ most recent Global E-Waste Monitor report in 2024. The report