INTERVIEW: ERI CEO says scrap export curbs create opportunity for US recycling

The US imposed one-year export restrictions on recoverable critical minerals and materials, including black mass, tungsten waste and scrap, permanent magnets, and lithium-ion batteries, requiring exporters to obtain licenses and report monthly sales.

US exports of these materials have grown rapidly, as prices for black mass in China generally exceeded those in the US in 2026.

The Platts nickel-cobalt black mass assessment averaged 51,903 yuan/metric ton ($7,710.12/mt) DDP China in May, the first time the monthly average has topped 50,000 yuan/mt since 2023. The price fell to 40,036 yuan/mt ($5,947.29/mt) on Aug. 20. The same assessment for the US peaked with an average of $5,302/mt in June and was assessed at $5,146/mt on Aug. 19.

US exports of tungsten waste and scrap, for example, rose 14.3% year over year to 2.2 million kg in 2025, while black mass exports rose 48.7% to 100.7 million kg, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence's Global Trade Analytics Suite.

John Shegerian, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Electronic Recyclers International, has long championed a "Green Fence" approach to keep end-of-life electronics and their valuable mineral content within US supply chains. At the same time, ERI is expanding internationally through partnerships in countries including Vietnam and Japan, with additional global ventures planned.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, spoke with Shegerian about whether the new restrictions could accelerate US recycling and urban mining, the industry's readiness to process more material domestically, and the challenges that could still hinder the development of a circular supply chain for critical minerals. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Platts: How much recoverable critical mineral value is leaving the US in end-of-life electronics, and what does that mean for domestic supply chains?

John Shegerian: The numbers are clearly meaningful and significant – which is why there is an executive order in the first place.

Official government tracking remains limited because much of this cargo is mislabeled, but a major investigation by the Basel Action Network last year concluded that roughly 2,000 shipping containers, or about 33,000 mt of old US electronics, leave American ports for Asia every month.

Over a two-year study period, investigators estimated that 10 major US brokers shipped more than 10,000 containers of discarded electronics worth over $1 billion to developing nations. Shipments are frequently routed through countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and the UAE, often misdeclared on customs documents as "scrap metal," "unwrought aluminum," or "working electronics" to circumvent international restrictions.

Export restrictions will have significant positive implications for the domestic recycling industry in many symmetric and asymmetric ways. There is no reason whatsoever to ship these electronics from our shores.

Do the new export restrictions deliver the "Green Fence" you've advocated for, or do gaps remain?

The big gap is that not all 50 states prohibit e-waste from going to landfills. Electronics contain hazardous materials such as lead, beryllium, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, which can contaminate the environment when discarded improperly.

At the same time, these materials are fully recyclable and can be recovered to support US industries ranging from aerospace and defense to AI and advanced manufacturing. Allowing e-waste to be landfilled instead of recycled is both an environmental risk and a missed resource opportunity.

Critics say the US lacks sufficient processing capacity. Could export restrictions create new bottlenecks?

That's a false narrative. The US already has significant recycling capacity, with substantial room to expand. Many facilities are operating below their potential and can increase throughput by adding shifts rather than building new plants.

At ERI, for example, we operate eight facilities that currently run primarily on a single shift. By moving to multiple shifts, we could substantially increase processing volumes. Traditional mines can no longer keep pace with the growing demand for critical minerals. That's where urban mining comes in.

How big a role could urban mining play in the US critical mineral supply by 2030?

The urban mining movement in the US is just getting started, so it is not yet as impactful as it will be. But that is going to change. The desire for critical minerals and rare earth materials is on everyone's mind now. As his new executive order takes effect, we will see a slowdown in offshore shipping. Based on our experience and relationships we have, we are confident offshore shipping will slow due to these and other factors. As more next-generation leaders enter the scene — focused on sustainability and green practices — we will also see more than just 23 states having landfill bans for e-waste. This will combine to what we believe will result in a 20-fold increase in urban mining by 2030.

What has driven e-waste exports from the US?

It is unscrupulous "recyclers." These unscrupulous recyclers and collectors — definitely not manufacturers — do have some incentives to do the wrong thing and ship e-waste overseas. They don't have to pay for their own equipment, labor, overhead, or certification dues. They are just taking the easy way out, which burdens the US by depleting valuable resources, jeopardizing private and proprietary data, and compromising the environment. This new executive order should help to slow down the bad actors and keep these resources on our shores for responsible processing.

How does ERI's international expansion fit with your support for keeping recoverable critical minerals in the US?

Our international expansion is focused on building partnerships with trusted, like-minded organizations to strengthen responsible electronics recycling globally, often with support from the US government.

Earlier this year, we announced a partnership with Japan's Itochu, and we expect to announce additional partnerships in India and Mexico, among other countries. Our goal is to build a global network of vetted recycling partners that share ERI's standards for environmental stewardship and responsible processing.